The FBI is asking the public’s help in locating a Savannah man charged with federal firearms-related violations.
A federal arrest warrant was issued Aug. 15 for the arrest of 26-year-old Charles “Chuckie” Johnson for possession of a firearm by a felon, said Special Agent Stephen Emmett, an FBI spokesman.
Johnson is also wanted for questioning in connection with seven Savannah-area bank robberies.
Agents would like to question Johnson in relation to the following armed bank robberies: July 2013 at the Savannah Bank, 100 Chatham Parkway; September 2012 at the Wells Fargo Bank, 14009 Abercorn St.; November 2012 at the Savannah Postal Credit Union, 22 Oglethorpe Professional Blvd.; January 2013 at the Colon Bank, 7011 Hodgson Memorial Drive; December 2012 at the United Community Bank, 2225 E. Victory Drive, Thunderbolt; and undated robberies of the Heritage Bank, 620 Stephenson Ave., and the First Chatham Bank, 7401 Hodgson Memorial Drive.
Johnson’s last known address was at 32 Liberty Heights Drive, and Emmett described him as a black male about 6 feet tall and 185 pounds.
Anyone with information regarding this individual should contact Savannah CrimeStoppers at 912-234-2020 or the Atlanta FBI Field Office at 404-679-9000 or Atlanta@ic.fbi.gov.
Fire breaks out in east Savannah
Savannah Fire & Emergency Services firefighters were able to minimize the amount of damage a small eastern Savannah house suffered from a blaze Friday afternoon.
No injuries were reported in the fire that started in a back bedroom of a small, gray block house in the 600 block of East Anderson Street about 2:30 p.m. It appears no one was inside the structure when the blaze began, said Mark Keller, Savannah Fire spokesman.
The fire spread to a back porch off the bedroom, but it was contained and eventually extinguished by responding firefighters.
Keller said the power had to be turned off, so any people who live in the house will be temporarily displaced.
Savannah Fire Friday evening was investigating what led to the fire.
Man convicted of killing SCAD student
FAIRFAX, Va. — A man who admitted to being high on PCP when he fatally stabbed a SCAD student while she gave him and his infant daughter a ride to a hospital has been convicted of first-degree murder.
A Fairfax County jury on Thursday night convicted 27-year-old Julio Blanco Garcia for the June 2010 slaying of Vanessa Pham of Falls Church, Va.
Pham was 19 when she was killed. She was heading into her sophomore year at the Savannah College of Art and Design and was home in Fairfax County on break when she died.
Pham was found dead in her car in a ditch. Blanco Garcia was arrested last year after police found DNA evidence linking him to the killing.
Prosecutors say Blanco Garcia planned to kill Pham, whom he stabbed 13 times.
The jury recommended a sentence of 49 years for Blanco Garcia. A judge will sentence him on Oct. 18.
Train derailment blocks eastside traffic
No one was injured, but several intersections in eastern Savannah were blocked for hours Friday after a train derailed between East Park Avenue and Wheaton Street.
The train blocked traffic on East Waldberg Street and East Bolton Street at least well into the evening.
Savannah-Chatham police spokesman Julian Miller said a couple of the train’s wheels slipped off the track. No train cars, however, tipped over.
As of Friday evening, there was no available timetable indicating when the train might be moved.
Police academy cadets to raise funds for animal shelter
Police recruits with the Garden City Georgia Public Safety Training Center will gather at the Savannah-Chatham Animal Control Center today to collect donations, foods or other essentials for the animals currently housed there.
Dubbed Cadets for Critters, the members of Class 269 will be at the shelter off Sallie Mood Drive from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Along with taking donations, they will sell hot dogs for $1 each with the money benefitting the animals.
There are currently 81 dogs and 79 cats living in the facility, police spokesman Julian Miller said.
The animal control center has allocated funds for food and supplies for the animals during the time they are required to be held before adoption or euthanization, but many animals are not adopted during those times. The additional food and supplies enable the animal control staff to maintain the dogs and cats longer to facilitate the adoptions.
In addition to cash, cadets also hope to collect donations of meat-flavored baby food, dog treats (peanut butter, cheese, rawhides and pigs ears); dry or canned puppy or kitten food (Pedigree preferred), flea and tick shampoos, towels of any size, combs and nail clippers, dog and cat toys, new or gently used crates, puppy milk replacement, bleach, laundry or dish soap, disinfectant wipes, paper towels or gift cards to PetSmart, Kinkos, Wal-Mart or any pet superstore or print shop.
Delays expected over weekend on Diamond Causeway due to paving
Georgia Department of Transportation contractors today and Sunday will pave an intersection on the Diamond Causeway, likely causing delays in the area.
From 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days workers will pave the intersection of Diamond Causeway where it joins with Whitefield Avenue at Ferguson Avenue, weather permitting.
The paving operation will impact motorist with delays at the intersection. Police will be used to direct traffic through the work zone and motorists should expect delays.
Compiled by Corey Dickstein and the Associated Press.