Madison Police Department
    • On January 1 a fraud complaint was filed at a Highland Avenue location after a woman reported that she noticed someone had attempted to make a $300 charge to the “Cellstore” using her checking account. The woman said she caught the charge while it was still pending and was able to stop the charge.
    • On January 15 Justin Bridwell, 21, Eatonton was arrested and charged with three counts of obstruction after he allegedly resisted officers’ attempts to arrest him on outstanding warrants. According to reports, officers responded to complaints of a white vehicle driving recklessly on Commerce Street. At Commerce Street a witness reported that Bridwell had been driving the vehicle but had left in another vehicle driven by a woman. Officers located Bridwell and the woman on Prior Circle. After locating Bridwell, reports state, Bridwell allegedly walked towards officers in an aggressive manner. One officer had to restrain Bridwell while a second officer attempted to place handcuffs on Bridwell. Bridwell broke free, reports state, and had to be restrained on the hood of a car while an officer completed handcuffing Bridwell.
    • On January 7 a fraud complaint was filed at a North Main Street bank after a man reported that someone had used his business checking account to fraudulently take more than $12,000 from the account. According to reports, the account holder reported that from January 4 to January 6 $12,312 had been removed from his account in 11 transactions. Six of the transactions occurred at a Sam’s Club location. A $3,972 transaction occurred at Solink and a $2,152 charge appeared from Sprint.
    • On January 15 Benjamin Wayne Malanoski, 21, Colbert was arrested and charged with shoplifting after he allegedly attempted to remove a basket containing wings and four salad bar items from an Eatonton Road grocery store without paying. Reports state that Malanoski was being watched by store personnel because they suspected him of shoplifting on previous occasions. As he was leaving the store, reports state, he was ordered to stop by store personnel but he ran out of the store and dropped the items. He was later stopped by authorities at an Eatonton Road general store.
    • On January 15 a shoplifting complaint was filed at an Eatonton Road clothing store after a manager at the store reported that a black woman with two younger black women took three pairs of earrings worth $39.96 and left the store in a dark blue or black truck driven by a white male. A witness at the store was able to identify the older woman and she is currently wanted by police.

Morgan County Sheriff’s Office
    • On January 15 a theft by taking complaint was filed at an Atlanta Highway, Rutledge location after a woman reported that four air conditioning units worth $23,000 were taken from two different Atlanta Highway locations. The woman said she last observed the Rude air conditioning units on January 7.
    • On January 10 a criminal trespass complaint was filed at a Craig Lane location after a man reported that he observed a Dodge pickup truck stuck in the snow and ice in a pasture. The man said the truck had dug holes and ruts in the pasture. Officers spoke with the driver of the truck who allegedly told them that he had been on the property pulling sleds in the snow and that he did not intentionally damage the pasture. The man also said he had lost control of the vehicle and got stuck.
    • On January 14 an aggravated stalking complaint was filed at a Malcom Road, Bostwick location after a woman reported that a man known to her had continued to make harassing phone calls and personal meeting with her despite the fact that she had acquired a temporary restraining order against the man. Officers noted the recorded phone calls. The woman said the man also rides by her residence and waits for her at various locations while the complainant is driving home from work.
    • On January 16 a damaging property complaint was filed at a Big Sandy Creek location after a man reported that his wife had damaged a stereo speaker following a fight. The complainant said he left the residence following a fight and when he returned he noticed that the speaker had been damaged The man told officers that his wife had called him and stated that she was going to destroy his stereo if he didn’t answer his phone. The man said he left the residence to stop the arguing.
    • On January 16 a harassing phone call complaint was filed at a Sugar Creek Church Road location after a woman reported that on the day her husband had been served divorce papers he had called her residence and spoke to one of the couple’s children and had allegedly called the complainant names and had cursed.
    • On January 15 a theft by taking complaint was filed at a Seven Islands Road location after a man reported that someone had taken his Yamaha Grizzly four-wheeler from his hunting camp. The man said earlier in the year members of the camp had hired a Jasper County man to do work at the camp and that the man had argued with camp members regarding compensation for the work.
    • On January 12 a domestic violence and entering automobile complaint was filed at a Turner Road location after a man reported that his girlfriend came to his residence and engaged in an argument. The man said the woman then walked to his truck and removed the keys. The woman also allegedly threw tools on the ground and left the residence with the man’s truck keys.
    • On January 7 a burglary complaint was filed at an Old Mill Road, Rutledge location after a man reported that when he and his wife came home they noticed someone had entered their residence and removed jewelry, cash and guns. The man said entry was gained through a bedroom window. A Taurus .38 revolver, a Marlin 30/30and a Remington rifle with a scope were missing.

Printed in the January 20, 2011 edition