Crime Blotter--Drugs and Bad Driving

Members of the Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at 123 Franklin Street on February 28. A quantity of cocaine was seized as well as digital scales, packaging material, cash, and a XBOX 360 reported stolen out of Clarke County.  Eric Fair, 30,  was arrested and charged with Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute and Theft by Receiving.

Around 7:45am February 28 an officer met with a Morton Road resident. He said  a short time before, the offender was stopped in front of him on Morton Road at Lexington Road. The offender’s vehicle began moving forward into the intersection even though the light was still red. He said vehicles on Lexington Road were hitting their brakes to avoid an accident. The Morton Road resident said he blew his horn twice to warn the offender. The offender kept his head down as if looking at something in his hands. He turned left and traveled west on Lexington Rd. When the light turned green, the Morton Road resident turned left and traveled toward town. When he stopped for the red light at Lexington and Winterville Road, he saw the same vehicle. The driver pointed a shotgun at him and his nine-year-old daughter. The Morton Road resident attempted to back up to get out of the line of fire but was unable to due to a vehicle behind him. No shots were fired and no one was injured. The offender drove off. A description of the vehicle and driver was given to officers and he was located a short time later. Marcus Wayne Rice, 23, Robert Hardeman Rd, was arrested and charged with two counts Aggravated Assault.  

An officer saw the driver of a vehicle fail to come to a complete stop when turning from Gaines School Road onto Cedar Shoals Road so a traffic stop was made.  When the officer asked the driver for his license, he smelled an odor of green marijuana coming from inside the vehicle.  He also saw a green leafy substance inside the vehicle.  The driver told the officer he had a gun under the seat but he had a concealed license permit.  He was then asked to exit the vehicle.  When asked if he had anything else in the vehicle, he said there was a small amount of cocaine.  A search of the vehicle revealed the gun, marijuana, and cocaine as well a pill grinder, scale, storage bags, and corner bags. A field test of the substances was positive for marijuana and cocaine.  George D. Staley, 26, Highland Park Drive, was arrested and charged with Possession of a Weapon During the Commission of Certain Crimes, Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, and Drug Offense within 1,000 feet of a School. This occurred around 6pm on February 28.  

A Marietta resident, driving a 2009 Honda Civic, was east bound on Dougherty Street. Jessie Daniel Wright of Bishop, driving a 1977 Jeep CJ5, was north bound on Thomas Street. Wright made a left turn onto Dougherty Street into the east bound lane, striking the Marietta resident’s vehicle head on.  The Honda then came to rest on its side. Wright was transported to Athens Regional Medical Center. After treatment he was arrested and charged with DUI/Alcohol, Suspended/Revoked License, and Vehicles to Drive on Right Side of Roadway. This accident occurred around 9:10pm on February 28.  

A Winterville Road residence was burglarized between 9am on February 27 and 7am on February 28.  Cash, jewelry, and beer were stolen.  The total value was $712.  A possible suspect was named.  

A woman reported that her Hickman Drive residence was burglarized between 12:45pm and 2:45pm on February 28. Nothing is known to be missing at this time.  

A man said two females known were visiting at his The Plaza residence.  He went in his bedroom and noticed $2,000 he kept under a rug was missing and the females were running out of the residence. This occurred between 2:15am and 2:35am on February 29.