Detectives are asking the public for help identifying a car that heavily damaged a historical park in downtown Savannah on Sunday morning.
The purple or dark blue Ford Mustang fastback was driven onto Battlefield Park at Louisville Road and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard just after midnight Sunday morning and spun around in circles on the parade ground and monument section before driving away on Harris Street, said Julian Miller, Savannah-Chatham police spokesman.
The stones on the monument were heavily damaged and deep ruts were left in the parade ground lawn.
As much as $25,000 in damage was done to the Coastal Heritage Society-maintained monument. More than 70 stones were damaged and 35 had to be completely removed, staff said.
Detectives have released a video showing the Mustang, believed to be about a 2010 model with chrome exhausts, crossing MLK headed west onto Louisville about 12:08 a.m. Sunday. It can be seen a few seconds later in the background spinning circles in the park.
Go to savannahnow.com to watch the video.
The car appears purple in the video but may be a color Ford calls Vista Blue, Miller said.
Police are asking anyone with information on the case, the Mustang or the driver to call CrimeStoppers at 912-234-2020 or text CRIMES (274637) using the keyword CSTOP2020. Tipsters remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.
The Coastal Heritage Society is also offering a $1,000 reward to anyone who can provide information that leads to an arrest in the case.
Convicted child molester arrested after fighting deputies
A convicted child molester who fought with Effingham deputies Thursday is being held without bond in the Effingham County jail.
A deputy with the sex offender registry unit of the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office went to a house on Horseshoe Road in the Bloomingdale area for a routine check to make sure that Gary Wigley, 49, was in compliance with the registry law.
Wigley became irate, threatened the deputy and fled into a wooded area, said sheriff’s spokesman David Ehsanipoor.
Deputies found Wigley and he attacked them in a “violent altercation,” Ehsanipoor said. They were able to subdue and arrest him.
Wigley is a registered sex offender who was convicted of child molestation and felony cruelty to children.
He was taken to an area hospital and treated before being taken to jail.
Wigley faces several charges, including felony obstruction of a law enforcement officer with violence and battery on a law enforcement officer.
Railroad crossing on Ga. 205 in Garden City closed today
Ga. 25/South Coastal Highway between Nelson and Rommel avenues in Garden City will be closed at the railroad crossing from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, weather permitting.
The closure is necessary for a railway maintenance operation, according to the Georgia Department of Transportation. Motorists will be able to access businesses, schools, and residences in the area up to work zone.
Traffic will be detoured as follows:
• Traffic traveling northbound on Ga. 25 will detour 0.36 miles west on Brampton Road to Ga. 21. Traffic will travel on Ga. 21 for 1.89 miles north to Ga. 307/Bourne Avenue, then travel 1.04 miles east on Ga. 307 to Ga. 25 where the detour ends.
• Traffic traveling southbound on Ga. 25 will detour at the intersection of Ga. 307/Bourne Avenue. Traffic will travel 1.04 miles west on Ga. 307/Bourne Avenue to the intersection of Ga. 21. Traffic will travel 1.89 miles south to Ga 21 to Brampton Road, then travel 0.36 miles on Brampton Road east to Ga. 25 where the detour ends.
• Ga. 25 will remain open to local traffic up to the work zone.
Work set for Gulfstream Road
Single lanes of Gulfstream Road near Robert B. Miller Road and continuing to Ga. 21 will be closed from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and Monday for pavement work, weather permitting.
Compiled by Dash Coleman and G.G. Rigsby
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 booked.savannahnow.com.