The owner of a Broughton Street business was arrested Wednesday with a large amount of marijuana and weapons after local drug agents executed a series of search warrants.
Mark Redman, 29, was arrested in an operation conducted by Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team agents Wednesday that included search warrants at his store “Elev8ed,” in the 400 block of West Broughton and in two other locations, said CNT Agent Gene Harley, the agency’s spokesman.
The search warants that were conducted at the business, at a location in the 200 block of West 37th Street and in the 300 block of Stonebridge Circle resulted in the seizure of about 13 pounds of marijuana Harley described as “high grade,” estimated to be worth about $30,000. Twelve firearms including assault rifles, ballistic vests, items commonly used to distribute marijuana and an undisclosed amount of U.S. currency were also seized in the operation.
Harley said the investigation began earlier this year when CNT and U.S. Postal inspectors noticed suspected drug activity at the Broughton business.
Redman, who faces felony counts of drug trafficking, possession of a knife or firearm while committing a crime and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, was denied bond Thursday in Chatham County Recorder’s Court and remains in the Chatham County jail. Harley said the investigation is continuing and additional arrests are expected to be made in the case.
Woman charged with false report
Savannah-Chatham police Thursday charged a woman with falsely reporting a crime after she admitting fabricating a report that a car she was driving was stolen at gunpoint.
Rebekah Emma Mayner, 30, of the 5400 block of Robinson Circle, told police she’d been driving a white 2009 Dodge Challenger that belonged to her boyfriend Sunday morning when two men robbed her of $30 and took the vehicle.
She later confessed to robbery detectives she’d made the story up, said police spokesman Julian Miller.
At least 28 people have been charged with filing false reports in Chatham County this year, Miller said. Complaints include suspects who reported robberies after accidentally shooting themselves, those who report vehicles stolen after they have been involved in wrecks and in once case a woman confessed to falsely accusing her former husband of a sexual assault.
“These false reports tie up a significant amount of resources,” said Interim Police Chief Julie Tolbert in a prepared statement. “Officers are pulled off their assigned duties to locate, secure and protect the crime scenes. Forensics investigators are brought in to document the sites. And detectives are reassigned from active investigations to these fraudulent cases.
“No police department can afford to waste such resources. And these investigations prevent officers from their assigned duties that enhance the safety of our community. This won’t be tolerated and we will charge everyone who files fraudulent reports accordingly.”
Man wanted in October arson
A warrant has been issued for a man suspected of arson in a Savannah rental home last month.
Law enforcement is searching for 37-year-old David Jason Moore, who is charged with one felony count of first-degree arson for allegedly setting fire to the house in the 200 block of Binnacle Court the afternoon of Oct. 9, said Glenn Allen, spokesman for the Georgia Department of Insurance & Fire Safety. Damage was estimated to cost about $150,000.
State fire investigators are working with Savannah-Chatham police and Southside Fire/EMS to apprehend the suspect, Allen said.
Guyton man pleads guilty to child porn charges
A Guyton man pleaded guilty in Effingham County Superior Court on Thursday to child porn charges and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Ronald Mullins, 50, was charged with sexual exploitation of children and possession of child pornography, according to Effingham Sheriff’s Office spokesman David Ehsanipoor.
Deputies from the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office conducted a search warrant at a residence in Barrister Crossing subdivision in July. Mullins was in possession of more than 100 images and videos of child pornography, Ehsanipoor said. Some of the children were between 4 years and 12 years old. Deputies seized computers and other electronic equipment. Mullins is being held in the Effingham County jail until he is turned over to the state prison. The arrest was the work of the Internet Crimes against Children Task Force. “Protecting our children is one of the highest priorities at the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office, and we will continue to pursue these cases in the future with ICAC,” said Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie.
CEMA conducts exercise to evaluate field response
During an emergency or disaster it’s important to be able to operate in the field in case buildings are damaged and infrastructure is compromised. That’s why the Chatham Emergency Management Agency works to ensure that if something happens, staff is able to respond no matter the circumstances or the location.
Thursday CEMA duty officers tested field capabilities using their vehicles, the Mobile Emergency Operations Center, and the Mobile Communications Trailer.
CEMA duty officers are able to arrive at an event/incident and can set up an incident command post from their vehicles to support the on-scene incident commander. In their vehicles, they have radio communications that can initially support up to five people, computer equipment, office supplies, safety equipment, and the ability to call for additional support.
The MEOC was purchased earlier this year with federal grant money and is able to support an emergency or disaster from any location. The 47-foot vehicle has 14 work stations, digital over-the-air and satellite television, computer and printing capabilities, as well as it can serve as an incident command post if there is no safe structure to work from. Through the field exercise, Duty Officers ensured the MEOC was operational and all equipment was working properly.
The Mobile Communications Trailer, which was purchased earlier this year through a grant, can also provide on-scene support. The 12-foot trailer has Skype VOIP phones that can be used during an incident, satellite internet, printing capabilities, as well as other communication functions.
“Fortunately for Chatham County, we haven’t had to deploy the MEOC or the Communications Trailer for any disasters. That’s why field exercises like this are even more important so staff can regularly check equipment to make sure it’s operational and to make sure they know how to properly use the equipment. It’s only a matter of time until we will need to use the MEOC and the Communications Trailer to support a disaster” said Clayton Scott, CEMA Director.
Allen Robinson is the Area Five Coordinator for The Georgia Emergency Management Agency. He covers 12 counties that make up what is considered Coastal Georgia. He was part of Thursday’s exercise and says Chatham County’s capabilities are essential during disaster operations.
“To have the field capabilities that CEMA has, makes for a better prepared Chatham County. Residents should feel confident that when the need arrives, response and recovery will be timely. As Chatham prepares, it also helps the County prepare to assist its neighbors in times of need; which could be during tornadoes, wildfires, floods and other emergencies.”
Field exercises with CEMA Duty Officers are conducted quarterly to ensure procedures, equipment, and vehicles are functioning correctly.
Effingham searching for absconded sex offender
Effingham County Sheriff’s deputies are asking for the public’s helping in finding a sex offender.
Deputies said that Christian Feuerlein, 41, of Savannah, recently moved to Effingham County without registering as required with the sheriff’s office.
“Feuerlein has an extensive criminal history that includes sexual exploitation of children,” Effingham County Sheriff’s Office spokesman David Ehsanipoor said.
Ehsanipoor said Feuerlein has fled the area.
Anyone with information on Feuerlein’s location is asked to contact the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office at 912-754-3449.
Identities released in fatal crash just north of Talmadge Bridge
Two women were killed Wednesday evening when their cars collided head-on on U.S. 17 just north of the Georgia/South Carolina border.
Sauls Funeral Home confirmed the two women as Rebecca Pirkle, 32, of Garden City and Tanya Bergelt, 35, of Bluffton.
About 5:30 p.m., a 2008 Lincoln vehicle being driven by Bergelt was headed north on U.S. 17 and went into the southbound lane, colliding head-on with Pirkle’s 2006 Dodge vehicle, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
Pirkle was pronounced dead at the scene of the wreck, and the Bergelt was flown to Memorial University Medical Center before succumbing to injuries, according to the Highway Patrol.
Troopers say both drivers were wearing seatbelts.
Traffic on the Talmadge Bridge from downtown Savannah into South Carolina was backed up for a few hours while emergency personnel worked to clear the wreck.
City to suspend downtown street sweeping citations for marathon
In order to better accommodate the parking needs of residents and visitors in town for the Rock ’n’ Roll Savannah Marathon, the city will not issue street sweeping citations in the downtown area on Friday and Saturday. Cars must still be parked in legal spaces to avoid being towed. Drivers should take care to avoid blocking fire hydrants and driveways in the area. The street sweeping parking enforcement schedule will return to normal after Saturday.
Compiled by Corey Dickstein, G.G. Rigsby, Katie Martin, Bluffton Today and Eric Curl