Morgan County Sheriff’s Office

• On April 1 Justin Michael Blankenship, 24, Bostwick, was arrested and charged with battery after he allegedly hit a woman in the face, choked her and threw a broken coffee table leg at her back. According to reports, the argument stemmed from how long the woman had left the house to purchase ice cream.

• On April 1 a theft by taking complaint was filed at a Seven Islands Road, Buckhead, location after someone took a fuel truck and tools worth more than $27,000. According to reports, the facility’s video surveillance showed that two people entered the property, located the fuel truck and then loaded welders, tanks and other tools onto the fuel truck. The fuel truck had distinct company markings on the side. A license tag was removed from another truck and placed on the fuel truck before the perpetrators damaged a front gate when leaving the location in the fuel truck.

• On March 31 a simple assault complaint was filed at a Davis Academy Road, Rutledge, location after a woman alleged that two men at the residence attacked her. Reports state that there were six people at the location when the altercation occurred. The men accused denied the accusation and countered with a claim that the complainant had attacked them after she completed a physical altercation with another man at the location. An officer noted that four of the six people at the residence appeared to be under the influence of alcohol. Several were urged to leave the location and spend the night elsewhere to limit further altercations.

• On March 31 a theft by taking complaint was filed at a West Main Street, Rutledge, location after a man reported that someone had taken one of four wicker chairs from his yard. The man alleged that he had purchased the four-chair set along with a small table “quite a while” ago and he noticed one of the chairs missing when he went to check on his mail.

• On March 29 a terroristic threats complaint was filed at a Price Mill Road, Bishop, location after a woman alleged that a man known to her had called her cell phone and left several messages threatening to kill her current boyfriend.

• On March 29 a burglary complaint was filed at a Wynbrooke Place location after an officer responded to burglary alarm. According to reports, the officer observed that jewelry had been strewn across a bed in the master bedroom and several rooms appeared to have been ransacked. An investigative team responded and processed the house for evidence. Reports state that entry appeared to have been gained by pulling off a screen window and forcing a window open with a screw driver. The homeowner reported that an Acer computer, Rolex watch and jewelry appeared to be missing. The incident occurred at approximately 1:36 p.m.

• On March 29 a theft by taking complaint was filed at an Eatonton Road location after a man reported that someone had entered a garage and removed a riding lawn mower.

• On March 14 a theft by taking complaint was filed at an East Dixie Highway, Rutledge, location after a man reported that someone had removed a $2,500 air conditioning unit from a vacant house.

• On March 28 a theft by taking complaint was filed at a Mallard Ridge location after a man reported that someone had removed a three-drawer Craftsman tool box with tools from a shed. The man said he noticed the theft after officers escorted him to the residence while he removed personal items. The man said he was under temporary protective order that required a police escort for him to enter the property.

• On March 27 a battery complaint was filed at an Estes Road, Rutledge, location after a woman reported that her son had destroyed her house. A deputy located the son in the back yard of the location searching for his keys and wallet. The woman told the officer she did not want her son incarcerated but wanted him to state, in writing, that he would repair the damages. The officer told the woman he could not force the son to repair the damage. The officer spoke to the son, who, reports state, appeared to be under the influence of some substance. The son said he was upset because his brother was “always stealing and breaking everything.” The son left the location with his girlfriend.

• On March 26 a theft by taking complaint was filed at a Halls Lane location after a man reported that someone had removed the keys from five pieces of farm equipment.

• On March 26 a burglary complaint was filed at a Medlock Road, Buckhead, location after a man reported that someone had entered a barn and removed 10 12-gauge shotguns. Reports state that the perpetrator used an axe to enter several rooms in the barn.

Madison Police Department

• On March 28 a larceny complaint was filed at a Monticello Road location after a man reported that someone had taken his black Samsung Blackberry phone. The man said he kept the phone in a bag and when he went to use his phone during a break at work he noticed it was missing. The phone is valued at $90.

• On March 28 an arson and recovery of a stolen vehicle report was filed at an Industrial Drive location after an officer observed a silver Nissan Sentra parked at the location at 11:45 p.m. with smoke coming from the driver’s side compartment. The officer requested fire department assistance and after the fire was controlled the officer discovered that the vehicle had an incorrect tag. An arson investigator ran the vehicle’s identification number and it came back as belonging to a Gray, Ga., auto lot. The officer learned that the vehicle had been stolen out of Baldwin County on March 21. Reports state that the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office has an arrest warrant issued for a man suspected of taking the vehicle.

• On March 30 Freddie Peaks, Jr. 55, Madison, was arrested and charged with criminal trespass after he allegedly went to a motel after he had been served with a trespass warning. According to reports, someone at the motel alerted management who then called police. Peaks was located in a room at the motel.

• On March 28 a counterfeit complaint was filed at an Eatonton Road convenience store. According to reports, a man attempted to purchase items at the store with a $100 bill. The clerk informed the man that the bill was counterfeit. The man told the clerk he had been paid with the bills. The man later came to the Madison Police Department and presented a second bill that was also counterfeit. The man said he had been paid by a Danielsville man for hogs with the bills. The man requested a police report so he could collect his money from the hog transaction.

• On March 26 a warrant for simple battery and disorderly conduct was filed against Damien Fitzgerald Daniel, 18, Madison, after he allegedly initiated a fight against a teen in a Waffle House parking lot. According to reports, the victim told authorities he had been contacted on Facebook to meet Daniel at the parking lot. The victim, another 18-year-old male, alleged after he arrived Daniel swung at him. The victim said he fell attempting to dodge the punch and then was struck several times while he was on the ground. Reports state that Daniel said the victim had made disparaging remarks regarding a group called “Morgan County Hell Raisers” and he took offense at the remarks.

• On March 13 a damage to property complaint was filed at a Pearl Street location after a 70-year-old man reported that while he and another man were sitting in the living room of the residence, someone threw a brick through the window. The men both fled to a bedroom and reported that they did not observe anyone throw the brick.

• On March 24 a larceny complaint was filed at a Sulgrave Drive location after a woman reported that someone had entered a truck and removed an 8GB Apple iPod Touch. The woman said she reported the theft to Apple and they locked the device.

• On March 29 a warrant for disorderly conduct was issued for Phillipe Thomas, 23, Madison. According to reports, Thomas allegedly had engaged in a physical confrontation during a birthday party at a Pearl Street location. Reports state that officers arrived at the Pearl Street location and confronted Thomas. Reports state that Thomas appeared intoxicated to the point that an interview could not be conducted. Witnesses reported that during the altercation a homeowner used a Taser device against Thomas and that glassware and chairs were damaged.

Printed in the Aril 5th, 2012 edition.