Athens Crime Blotter--rape, burglary, an assault

Around 11:35am on June 18 officers responded to a burglary in progress at a Boley Drive residence.  Upon arrival they saw two men crouched behind a Ford Windstar van in the driveway and a man on the porch pointing a gun at them.  An officer told the man to lower the weapon and he complied.  The men behind the van then fled on foot.  Officers pursued and after a brief foot chase apprehended them.  The resident said he had been awakened by a noise in his residence.  He found the two men stealing his AC unit and TV.  He said he got his gun and told them to get down.  At one point he fired several shots into the van.  Further investigation revealed the 2000 Ford Windstar had been stolen from a woman on Spring Valley Road, though it wasn’t certain when it had been stolen.  Arrested were Westly Adams Barnes, 23, Burkland Lane, and Robert William Lavender, 17, Hargrove Lake Road, Crawford.  They were charged with Burglary, Theft by Taking, and Obstructing/Hindering LEO.  Further investigation revealed Barnes and Lavender had also allegedly burglarized a Calhoun Drive residence, where an  air conditioner unit, no value given, was stolen.  They were also charged with Burglary for this incident.  

A woman reported that her Chestnut Oak Run residence was burglarized between 8:15am and 8:45am.  TVs, a lap top, camera, cash, and jewelry were stolen.  The total value was $9,498.  

An Arch Street residence was burglarized between 8am and 5:45ph on June 18.  A power sander, laptop, and disc changer were stolen.  The total value was $260.  The residence was burglarized again between 1920 and 2120.  A TV was stolen.  A storage shed was previously burglarized but not reported.  A power saw, power drill, and jigsaw were stolen at that time.  These items had a total value of $1,030.  

A Chesterton Drive residence was burglarized between 3pm on June 18 and 12:05am on June 19.  Video game consoles, knives, jewelry, and a laptop were stolen.  The total value was $8,349. 

The 28-year-old victim reported she was raped by a person known in a wooded area off Hawthorne Avenue between 10pm and 11:30pm on June 18.  The investigation continues.

A woman from Honeysuckle Lane said she had gone to a store with several people.  As they were walking back to the North Avenue bridge, one of the subjects accused her of stealing $20 from him and demanded that she return it.  She said she did have $20 but it was hers.  When she refused to give him the $20, he punched her in the face and took the money.  She said the blow caused her to fall back against the concrete of the bridge.  A witness confirmed her story.  After the assault the suspect left the area on foot.  Officers were unable to locate the suspect. This occurred around 10:15pm on June 18.