Kavon Smalls, being sought after indictment last week on various charges stemming from local gang activity, turned himself in to Savannah-Chatham police detectives Monday morning.
Smalls, 18, is an alleged member of the Hell Hole Gang, also known as the 54th Street Gang.
Police are still looking for Jashavious J. Keel, 20, and Tashard K. Orr, 19. Both men are considered armed and dangerous, said police spokesman Julian Miller.
Anyone aware of the location of Keel or Orr is advised not to approach them but to call 911 immediately.
People with information on Keel or Orr’s whereabouts can also call CrimeStoppers at 912-234-2020 or text CRIMES (274637). Tipsters remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.
Investigators can be reached confidentially at 912-525-3124.
Wal-Mart arson, shoplifting suspect arrested
Police have arrested Kena Young-Wilson, whom they suspect of starting a fire in a Chatham County Wal-Mart last month then leaving with a basketful of stolen goods.
Young, 33, of the 700 block of East 37th Street, was taken into custody at her job about 12:30 p.m. Monday, said Julian Miller, Savannah-Chatham police spokesman. She was charged with first-degree arson, terroristic threats, giving false statements and shoplifting.
Police say the alleged crimes occurred about noon on Aug. 20 at the Wal-Mart at 6000 Ogeechee Road.
Miller said tips from the public to CrimeStoppers led to Young’s arrest. Police had previously asked for the public’s help identifying her.
FBI warns of bomb-threat scam
The FBI is alerting consumers in the Coastal Empire to a scam that has recently appeared in Georgia.
On Sept. 12, 10 retail stores in Savannah received bomb threats via phone, said Mark F. Giuliano, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Atlanta field office. In each case, the caller asked to speak to the manager, then demanded that 10 Green Dot MoneyPak cards be activated, loaded with $500 and that the card numbers be read over the phone.
The caller threatened to blow up the stores if the managers did not comply, and also threatened employees’ homes and families, Giuliano said.
None of the managers complied with the caller’s demands, and no explosive devices were found, Giuliano said.
The managers of all the stores described the caller as a male between 20-30 years old with a foreign accent.
Investigators determined the calls were similar to other telephonic threats made to various drug stores and retail outlets nationwide, Giuliano said. One call to a store in Snellville was identified as an overseas Voice Over IP telephone number. To date, no explosive devices have been found anywhere in the U.S. linked to this type of threat.
Giuliano said that while all the incidents involved bomb threats, the types of threats vary. Green Dot MoneyPak cards are reloadable and available at most retail outlets nationwide and are untraceable, he said. Users of these cards are reminded to never give anyone numbers associated with the cards because doing so gives them access to money on the cards.
Anyone with information on this type of scam can provide a report or complaint to the FBI at www.IC3.gov.
Police substation to open in City Market
The Savannah-Chatham police department will open a City Market substation at 3 p.m. Friday.
City Market contributed the 1,200-square-foot, second-story office for the substation, and the Savannah College of Art and Design loaned artwork to decorate the interior walls, said Julian Miller, police spokesman.
The substation will be used for working space for officers patrolling nearby and as a base of operations for a special assignment squad that patrols the entertainment area Thursday through Sunday nights when businesses serving alcohol are busiest, Miller said.
Capt. Mike Wilkins, commander of the department’s Downtown Precinct, said the loft office provides officers with helpful views of both the City Market courtyard on St. Julian Street and across West Congress Street to the walk-up window at McDonald’s at West Broughton and Jefferson streets.
Police Chief Willie Lovett said the support from City Market and SCAD increases the department’s ability to protect one of Savannah’s busiest areas.
Nighttime roadwork to affect Abercorn this week
Some eastbound and westbound lanes of Abercorn Street between Wilshire Boulevard and Largo Drive will be closed from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. today through Friday for concrete operations, weather permitting.
Motorists should expect delays at this work zone.
The state Department of Transportation asks drivers to be aware that personnel and equipment will be operating close to travel lanes.
Compiled by Dash Coleman
CHATHAM COUNTY BOOKED
To see pictures and details for individuals serving their initial incarceration in Chatham County, as reported by the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, go to ChathamCountyBooked.com.