TRACTOR TRAILER ACCIDENT
APRIL 13, 2012
Traffic in Ridgeland was backed up all day after an 18 wheeler overturned on I-95 Friday morning. Ralph Bauer of 204 Arnold Street Andalusia, AL was traveling South when he apparently fell asleep and ran off into the median striking the cable barrier. The 2010 KW truck and trailer was loaded with Phosphorous was not a hazard after overturning on its left side. The clean-up is expected to continue into the evening hours.
MAN CHARGED WITH TRAFFICKING OXYCODONE
APRIL 11, 2012
NELSON OSVALDO NERIS
On April 10th Officers with the Ridgeland Police Department ICE Team conducted a traffic stop on a tan Ford Fusion on Interstate 95 North near the 23 mile marker for an improper lane change and following too closely. Following a K-9 alert on the vehicle, Officers discovered four large vitamin bottles containing 21,290 Oxycodone pills. The driver of the vehicle, Nelson Osvaldo Neris, 38, of 6470 SW 35th St Miami, FL was arrested and charged with Trafficking Oxycodone. He is currently being held at the Jasper County Detention Center.
TWO BUSINESSES BURGLARIZED
MARCH 23, 2012
WILLIAM JAMES BLACK
On March 23rd at approximately 5:00 am William Black, 28, of 306 Moultrie Plantation, broke into the Palmetto Veterinary Hospital on South Green Street by shattering the front door window glass. It's believed that Black was frightened off by the security alarm after going through several drawers in the front office area and fled in a stolen 2000 Dodge Pickup. Black was later arrested and charged by Jasper County Deputies after burglarizing the Tiger Express store in Coosawhatchie. The Carquest Auto Parts Store on North Jacob Smart Boulevard in Ridgeland was also burglarized in a similar fashion shortly after the Palmetto Veterinary Hospital and before the Tiger Express. Evidence collected from both Ridgeland businesses has been been sent to the State Law Enforcement Division for analysis. William Black is currently being held at the Jasper County Detention Center.
FINANCIAL CARD THEFT ARREST MADE
FEBRUARY 28, 2012
TAMMY LAFLER
A Ridgeland woman was arrested Tuesday morning after Investigators discovered evidence that she had used a stolen ATM card at 2 local businesses. On February 17th Tammy Lafler, 31, of Ridgeland, made 3 separate ATM withdrawals at Harvey's Supermarket and the Captain Bill Road BP Station with another person's H&R Block Tax Return Debit Card without permission. Ridgeland Police received a call about the stolen card after the victim discovered that it had been used when she received her bank statement. Ridgeland Investigators followed up with bank records which identified the times and locations of where the card had been used. Video surveillance was then obtained showing a female, later identified as Tammy Lafler, entering said businesses and making ATM withdrawals with the stolen card. Lafler was taken to the Jasper County Detention Center where she remains awaiting a bond hearing.
SECOND SUSPECT CHARGED IN PIZZA BELLA BURGLARY
FEBRUARY 25, 2012
KRISTY LYNN FALER
A Bluffton woman was taken into custody on Saturday and charged as a co-defendant in the February 19th Burglary of the Pizza Bella Restaurant on East Main Street. Kristy Lynn Faler, 34, of 897 Fording Island Road Bluffton, SC was arrested at her home and charged with Attempted Murder and Burglary 2nd Degree after Investigators executed a search warrant of her phone records and discovered that she had acted as a co-conspirator and lookout as co-defendant Paul Domnelli forced entry into the business at approximately 2:30 am Sunday February 19th. Faler is currently being held at the Jasper County Detention Center awaiting a bond hearing.
SUSPECT CAPTURED FOLLOWING DOUBLE BURGLARY
FEBRUARY 21, 2012
PAUL THOMAS DOMNELLI
A Beaufort County man was arrested after burglarizing two Ridgeland businesses early Sunday morning. Paul Thomas Domnelli, 31, of 10 Muirfield Drive Bluffton, SC was arrested and charged with 1 count of Burglary 1st degree, 1 count of Burglary 2nd degree and 1 count of Attempted Murder. Ridgeland Police officers were dispatched to a Burglary in progress at the Pizza Bella Restaurant on East Main Street around 3:20 am Sunday morning after business owner James R. Horton drove up and saw someone inside and called 911 with a description of the man inside. Officers arrived and found the back door open and Mr. Horton returning to the scene after he and 2 of his employees had chased the subject before losing sight of him in the Logan Lane Apartment complex. Corporal Kevin Smith and K-9 Officer Rett Long then advised reponding Officers that they were in pursuit of the suspect in the area of Logan Lane Apartments after Corporal Smith observed a white male matching the given description running into the laundry room facility. As other Officers arrived on scene to assist, Domnelli was ultimately arrested without further incident following a brief struggle.
Motion sensor cameras inside Pizza Bella activated after the suspect entered the business around 2:37 am wearing a ski mask and all black clothing. While inside, Domnelli broke into the cash register, damaged the business safe attempting to open it and then took a plastic bag containing loose change and a DeWalt cordless drill. After he observed Mr. Horton's vehicle pull into the parking lot, he removed his mask and attempted to leave. An employee with Mr. Horton attempted to block the rear door to prevent his escape but was unable to hold the door as Domnelli eventually forced it open and struck the employee several times with a four foot metal pipe before fleeing the scene. After reviewing the businesses' surveillance video, a positive identification was made of Paul Thomas Domnelli. A satchel Domnelli had in his possession following his arrest contained a mini crowbar, pry bar and various screwdrivers as well as the bag of change and DeWalt drill taken from the Restaurant. Domnelli was then charged with 1 count of Burglary 1st degree and 1 count of Attempted Murder and transported to the Jasper County Detention Center awaiting a bond hearing..
At approximately 12:00 pm that same morning, Ridgeland Police were dispatched to the Main Street BBQ after the owner discovered the back door had been forced open. After Officers and the owner inspected the business and determined that nothing was missing, they reviewed the security camera footage and discovered that at approximately 2:20 am Paul Thomas Domnelli had entered through the rear door and burglarized that business prior to the Pizza Bella Restaurant after which a second warrant was issued against Domnelli for 1 count of Burglary 2nd degree.
FINAL BOBOP'S SUSPECT CAPTURED
FEBRUARY 18, 2012
AYUBA CUNNINGHAM
The third and final suspect in the December 15th armed Robbery of the Bobop's Convenience Store in Ridgeland was captured on Saturday February 18th. After receiving information that Ayuba Cunningham was seen walking down Fordville Road, Ridgeland Police Officers converged on the area where Cunningham was found standing at the intersection of Fordville Road and Snookie Lane. He was then placed under arrest without incident and transported to the Jasper County Detention Center where he is currently being held under the charge of Armed Robbery.
SECOND BOBOP'S SUSPECT CHARGED WITH THIRD BEING SOUGHT
FEBRUARY 14, 2012
JEREL TYSON AYUBA CUNNINGHAM
Jerel Tyson, 25, of 317 Shanklin Road in Beaufort SC has been charged as the second suspect in the December 15th armed robbery of the Ridgeland Bobop’s Convenience Store on Grahamville Road. Tyson’s arrest follows the arrest of Christopher Clemons as the first suspect charged who was apprehended on Christmas Eve by Port Royal Police during an attempted armed robbery there. Clemons is still being held at the Beaufort County Detention Center while Tyson is being held at the Jasper County Detention Center. Jerel Tyson is also facing armed robbery charges from Port Royal Police Department as well as Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office.
An arrest warrant has also been issued for Ayuba Cunningham for the charge of armed robbery. If you have any information on his whereabouts please call 911 or contact Lieutenant Litchfield (843-726-7509) or Investigator McIntosh (843-717-1035) at the Ridgeland Police Department.
BOBOP'S ROBBERY SUSPECT CHARGED
JANUARY 3, 2012
CHRISTOPHER J. CLEMONS
Ridgeland Police have issued a warrant for one of three suspects in the December 15th Armed Robbery of the Bobop's Convenience Store on Grahamville Road. Christopher Jamar Clemons, 21, of 178 Matthew Stephenson Rd Tillman, SC is currently being held in the Beaufort County Jail after being charged with Armed Robbery by the Port Royal Police Department. On Christmas Eve, Christopher Clemons and another male matching the description of the Bobop's Robbery attempted to rob the Broad River Pantry in Port Royal where Clemons was wrestled to the ground by two store clerks and two unidentified store patrons as the other suspect fled. Clemons was held by the men until Port Royal Police arrived and placed him under arrest.
TWO PEOPLE FOUND MURDERED
DECEMBER 18, 2011
The Ridgeland Police Department is investigating a double homicide at 163 Heron Crossing Road Apartment 102. Officers responded to a welfare check at 9:20 Saturday night where they found a partially open back door. After gaining entry to the residence officers discovered two victims, both with multiple gunshot wounds. The victims have been identified as Chad Kyle Beckett, 22, of 37 Snookie Lane and Tameeka Nicole Welch, 35, of 163 Heron Crossing Road Apartment 102. Both bodies have been transported to MUSC in Charleston for autopsy. No other information will be available until Monday.
If you have any information that could assist in this investigation, you are asked to contact Lieutenant D. Litchfield (843-726-7509) or Investigator C. McIntosh (843-717-1035) at the Ridgeland Police Department.
BOBOP'S CONVENIENCE STORE ROBBED
DECEMBER 15, 2011
Ridgeland Police officers respond to an armed robbery at the new Bobops gas station at 8548 Grahamville Road on Thursday morning when two unidentified black males entered the store around 1:20 a.m. wearing masks and gloves. One suspect stayed with the cashier while the other went behind the counter and removed 2 plastic bags from his pockets. After removing all the cash from the registers and several packs of cigarettes both suspects fled the store and ran to Henry Lawton Road where they had a vehicle waiting. Bobops clerk Jackie Frazier activated the store's panic alarm after the suspects fled.
If you have any information on the identity of the suspects pictured here please call 911 or contact Lieutenant Litchfield (843-726-7509) or Investigator McIntosh (843-717-1035) at the Ridgeland Police Department. Both suspects are considered armed and dangerous.
PEDESTRIAN STRUCK BY VEHICLE
DECEMBER 9, 2011
A pedestrian struck by a vehicle is in critical condition at Memorial Medical Center in Savannah. Douglas McAuthor Grim, 41, of 1063 39th Street in Parkersburg, WV was walking in the roadway while wearing dark clothing on Nuna Rock Road around 6:10 pm Thursday evening when he was struck by a 2004 Toyota pickup being driven by Jeremy Robert Tuten, 17, of Log Hall Road in Ridgeland. Tuten stated he never saw Douglas Grim until after he had already struck him. He then turned around and returned at which time he saw Grim lying in the ditch and immediately called 911. Jasper County Fire and Rescue attended to Grim and he was later flown to Savannah. Officer Tim East of the Ridgeland Police Department is still investigating the collision. Officer East has made contact with the victims family in West Virginia. At this time no charges have been filed against the driver of the pickup.
Update
Douglas McAuthor Grim, 41, of 1063 39th Steet Parkersburg, WV, died Saturday December 10, 2011 at Memorial Medical Center in Savannah, GA. Mr Grim died as a result of his injuries, after he was struck by a pickup while he was walking on Nuna Rock Road in Ridgeland on Thursday evening.
RIDGELAND MAN FOUND GUILTY OF MURDER
DECEMBER 7, 2011
Antonio D. Scott was convicted today of the murder of Cynthia Nelson. On March 20, 2011, Antonio D. Scott stabbed Cynthia Nelson in the neck during a domestic dispute at the Baytree Apartment complex at 107 First Avenue. Ms. Nelson was transported by LifeStar to Memorial Medical Center in Savannah where she later died from her injuries. Antonio Scott was arrested on March 21st and charged with her murder. On Tuesday December 7, following a two day trial, a Jasper County Jury found Antonio D. Scott guilty of murder and a Circuit Court Judge sentenced him to 30 years in prison.
ANTONIO SCOTT
ONE DEAD AFTER TRACTOR TRAILER CRASHES ON I-95
NOVEMBER 29, 2011
One person is dead from injuries after the 18 wheeler he was driving ran off I-95 at the 21 ½ mile marker north bound. The vehicle, a 2011 Volvo Truck owned by Sunstate Carriers Inc., in Tavares FL, was loaded with orange juice headed to Canada. Around 10:15 Tuesday morning, the vehicle ran off the road and traveled about 200 feet before striking several trees causing the trailer to overturn and spill several hundred cases of orange juice. Officer Tim East of the Ridgeland Police Department is investigating the collision and is awaiting the results of an Autopsy to determine the cause of the collision. The identity of the driver is pending confirmation by medical/dental records and notification of next of kin.
PIZZA HUT RESTAURANT ROBBED
AUGUST 19, 2011
On August 19th at approximately 10:00 pm an unknown black male entered the Pizza Hut Restaurant on North Jacob Smart Boulevard armed with a handgun. The suspect forced all employees into the walk in freezer at gunpoint before forcing the Manager on duty to open the front lobby register as well as the business safe striking him in the back of the head several times before returning him to the freezer and fleeing the building with an undisclosed amount of money.
If you have any information on the identity of the suspect pictured here please call 911 or contact Lieutenant Litchfield (843-726-7509) or Investigator McIntosh (843-717-1035) at the Ridgeland Police Department. Suspect is considered armed and dangerous.
BURGER KING RESTAURANT ROBBED
AUGUST 6, 2011
On August 6th at approximately 11:00 pm an unknown black male armed with a handgun and an unknown black female entered the Burger King Restaurant on East Main Street through a side door where they forced one of the night employees to the Manager’s office at gunpoint. The pair then attempted to enter the Manager’s office where two other employees were performing their nightly closing duties. A short struggle ensued in the doorway of the Manager’s office after which the two suspects fled from the building.
If you have any information on the identity of the suspects pictured here please call 911 or contact Lieutenant Litchfield (843-726-7509) or Investigator McIntosh (843-717-1035) at the Ridgeland Police Department. Both suspects are considered armed and dangerous.
MAN CAUGHT BURGLARIZING SAME HOME SECOND TIME
AUGUST 2, 2011
MATHEW LEE TAYLOR
At 10:42 am on Tuesday August 2nd Ridgeland Police Officers responded to a report of a burglary in progress at 132-B Newlin Drive. As officers responded to the area the suspect was reported to have fled on foot running towards the Ridgeland Cemetery wearing khaki shorts and a white t-shirt. Ridgeland Officers, with the assistance of Jasper County Sheriff's Office, quickly set up a perimeter after seeing the suspect running across Great Swamp Road into a wooded area behind Heron Crossing Apartments. The suspect, Mathew Lee Taylor, 22, was subsequently captured without further incident on Tillman Road just West of the apartment complex. Taylor entered the residence through a side bedroom window where he was caught by the homeowner in the hallway. Taylor then assaulted the homeowner before fleeing on foot through the front door. Taylor was out on bond after being arrested by Ridgeland Police Department in June of this year for burglarizing the same residence and is currently being held at the Jasper County Detention Center.
TWO MEN SHOT IN RIDGELAND
JULY 26, 2011
Ridgeland Police responded to a call on Adams Street after shots were fired shortly after 10pm Sunday night. Officer Rett Long arrived at 1742 East Adams Street and secured the scene for Fire and Rescue. Officer Long found Timothy Cooler, 22, of 5635 Mt. Carmel Road in Estill, lying on the kitchen floor with a gunshot wound to the stomach. Officers were then advised of another gunshot victim at the Waffle House on Main street. Officer Kevin Smith arrived and found David Leslie Williams III, 24, of 5514 Cotton Hill Road in Tillman, with a gunshot wound to the chest. Witnesses in the Waffle House stated that Williams walked from the area of East Adams Street behind the Chinese Restaurant, crossed Main Street and into the Waffle House where he fell onto the front door. Officers processed the scene at the Adams Street residence where both victims were shot and found shell casings and evidence of illegal drug activity. Both gunshot victims were flown to Savannah Memorial where they are being treated for their injuries; they are currently listed in stable condition. Charges and arrests are pending further investigation.
ARMED ROBBERY SUSPECT ARRESTED
MAY 20, 2011
JOE CHANEY
An Armed Robbery suspect was arrested following a foot chase at a Safety Checkpoint at the intersection of Henry Lawton Road and Firefly Drive Friday night. Officers noticed a vehicle approaching which suddenly stopped, and a passenger fled into the woods. Officer Rett Long, with his K-9 “Dorian,” tracked the suspect through the woods to Captain Bill Road. With the assistance of several officers, the subject was captured a short time later. Joe Chaney, 19, of 15732 Bees Creek Road, was charged with resisting arrest and simple possession of marijuana. After a records check, central dispatch advised officers that Chaney was also wanted by the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office for armed robbery and possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime. Chaney was transported to the Jasper County Detention Center awaiting a bond hearing.
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