Oconee Blotter: Unknown man who plotted shoplifting escapes

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office reported the following incidents:

PAINTBALL SHOOTING: On Oct. 15, Deputy Devan Blair met with a 53-year-old Watkinsville man, who reported he was driving along Aiken Road in Bogart, when his new 2023 Toyota RAV4 was fired upon by someone using a paintball gun. At the time, a gray car with what appeared to be three teenagers inside were passing him. The man said the ball spread orange paint on the side of his car, which he took to a car wash to get off. However, he estimated the dent would cost $200 to repair.

STOLEN CAR: On Oct.16, Sgt. Travis Wooster was dispatched to Elm Street, where an abandoned 2019 Kia Forte had been seen on the roadside for about five days. A rear side window was broken out and the steering column damaged. A check of the license plate showed the car was reported stolen in Athens and belonged to a resident of Colbert.

MAT THEFT: On Oct. 16, a man was seen on video stealing a mat used to cover gas connections at the gas station owned by Costco at the Oconee Connector. The 38-year-old Atlanta man is seen throwing the mat into the bed of his GMC Sierra pickup. The deputy called the man and informed him a warrant was being secured for his arrest. The mat was valued at $500.

SHOPLIFTER CAUGHT: On Oct. 16, Deputy Annessa Glenn was alerted that a shoplifting was in progress at Home Depot. A man suspected in a previous shoplifting was back and seen placing items in a cart. The 28-year-old Braselton man had arrived in a black SUV with the license plate removed. When the man was confronted, he denied having anything. However, he was found concealing three cameras valued at $69 in his pocket. The man was also wanted on multiple arrest warrants.

MASTERMIND FLEES: On Oct. 16, Deputy Annessa Glenn and three other deputies responded to a shoplifting in progress at Walmart. Two men and a woman entered the store after 9 p.m. with a baby stroller. They began concealing items in the stroller, while one man put some items in his pants and the other put items in his coat. As they were leaving, the woman was seen putting items down. She explained later that she was on the phone with a friend outside the store who alerted her that patrol cars were pulling up to the storefront. When all three were confronted one man took off running and escaped. The 18-year-old Athens woman and 22-year-old Lawrenceville man told the officers, they didn’t know the other man, but it was his idea to come in the store and begin stealing. The pair was taken to jail.

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SUSPECT IN DENIAL: On Oct. 19, Sgt. Sonyia Wallace-Burchett was dispatched to Old Navy at the Oconee Connector, where a 34-year-old Athens woman was seen rolling up three pairs of pants and putting them in her purse. After she was confronted, she denied she was trying to steal anything. However, she was taken to jail.

DRUNK DRIVING: On Oct. 19, Deputy Annessa Glenn conducted a traffic stop after she saw a car make an unlawful turn on Highway 316 and then speed off. After the stop, the deputy noted the 62-year-old woman from Bethlehem smelled of alcohol. She was animated and said she had an emergency. She denied drinking, but later admitted she had some drinks at a Mexican restaurant. She read 0.95 on an alcohol test and was charged with DUI.

HEROIN FOUND: On Oct. 20, Cpl. Kenji Dorsey was in the Lowe’s parking lot when a vehicle drove by with a window tint so dark he couldn’t see inside. He ran the tag and it showed the driver had an outstanding warrant. A traffic stop was made and the 35-year-old woman driving the car was taken into custody due to having her license suspended for a child support violation. A 44-year-old female passenger from Colbert was arrested after she was found in possession of some heroin, which she said she uses on a daily basis.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Oconee Blotter: Deputies respond to shoplifting at Walmart, Old Navy