Across the area

Teen charged over meth lab

An Augusta teenager remained in the Richmond County jail Thursday after being arrested for charges connected to a portable meth lab.

Terry Paige Hufton, 17, of the 4200 block of James Drive, is charged with felony manufacturing methamphetamine and felony manufacturing methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a school, according to Richmond County sheriff's Sgt. Matt Phares of the narcotics division.

Mr. Hufton was arrested Tuesday at a residence in the 2400 block of Willis Foreman Road, near Willis Foreman Elementary School, Sgt. Phares said.

Mr. Hufton was operating his illegal drug business by using a suitcase as a mobile methamphetamine manufacturing operation, Sgt. Phares said.

Moving truck strikes Olive Road overpass

Police were called to an accident at the Olive Road railroad overpass Thursday.

At about 4:30 p.m., a moving truck owned by Mike's Furniture of Peach Orchard Road was traveling north on Olive Road and struck the railroad overpass, Richmond County sheriff's Sgt. Derek Harris said.

The top portion of the truck hit the railroad bridge, but no extensive damage occurred to the structure, Sgt. Harris said.

No injuries were reported.

The truck was driven by Brian Jenkins, 23, of Augusta.

Officials from the Augusta-Richmond County engineering department, along with CSX Railroad personnel, investigated the incident, Sgt. Harris said.

On Feb. 1, the road was closed after a truck struck the bridge and caused a steel beam to fall on top of an oncoming vehicle, killing 24-year-old Isaiah Dominique Lewis.

Pamela L. Brown, 36, of Merry Street, was charged with vehicular homicide, failure to obey a traffic control device and driving while her license was suspended.

Woman reports purse snatched at riverwalk

A 17-year-old Aiken woman told police she was walking with another female along the 900 block of Riverwalk Augusta on Wednesday night when someone grabbed her purse and ran.

According to a Richmond County sheriff's report, Terra Robinson said she ran after the man, but he got away near 13th and Jones streets.

The robbery reportedly occurred at about 11:30 p.m. Ms. Robinson said she had a $200 phone inside the purse, her driver's license and a personal check for $100.

According to the report, the robber is described as a black man between 5 feet 7 inches and 5 feet 10 inches tall with shoulder-length braided hairs with beads on the ends. He also is said to be slender, light-skinned and between 15 and 20 years old.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the sheriff's office at (706) 821-1080.

Man faces charges in cocaine trafficking

Police on Thursday arrested a 22-year-old Augusta man for trafficking cocaine.

Kenney Antwon Sturgis, of the 1100 block of 11th Avenue, was jailed Thursday morning on drug charges.

According to a Richmond County sheriff's incident report, officers found a clear bag of 28 grams of powder cocaine on Mr. Sturgis on Wednesday night, in addition to two digital scales and a clear plastic bag containing about 14 grams of crack cocaine.

Thrown beer bottles damage drive-through

An angry Taco Bell customer began throwing beer bottles at the eatery's drive-through window early Thursday, according to officials.

Antwan Young, who works at the Taco Bell on the 3100 block of Peach Orchard Road, told police that the customer was unhappy with food he ordered just after midnight, so he began throwing the bottles.

A Richmond County sheriff's report states that the beer bottles broke two windows, causing about $500 in damage.

Two workers injured in company accident

Two people suffered "superficial" injuries when the wrong valve was opened at AirGas Dry Ice on Thursday, Augusta-Richmond County Fire Chief Howard Willis said by phone.

The workers had injuries similar to frostbite after the incident, which occurred shortly after 11 a.m. Thursday, Chief Willis said. They were taken to the hospital as a precaution.

The incident was at first reported to be an explosion at the company that makes blocks of dry ice on Laney-Walker Boulevard Extension.

Man pleads guilty in attack on teacher

A young man accused of busting open a teacher's head at the Augusta Youth Development Campus pleaded guilty to reduced charges Thursday.

Robert Stanfill, 20, was initially charged with aggravated assault and theft for attacking a teacher on Nov. 26, 2003.

He pleaded guilty in Richmond County Superior Court to battery and received a one-year incarceration sentence.

Mr. Stanfill has had numerous arrests and mental health commitments since he was 13, attorney Clayton Jolly said.

ASU president gets 4 percent pay raise

Augusta State University's president received a 4 percent pay raise from the University System Board of Regents this week.

Dr. William A. Bloodworth Jr.'s salary grew from $138,658 to $144,204, said Arlethia Perry-Johnson, an associate vice chancellor of media and publications for the board of regents.

The head of ASU was among a group of university presidents who received pay raises, Ms. Perry-Johnson said.

State university president salaries range from $134,550 at Fort Valley State University to $181,200 at Kennesaw State University.

The pay raises are based on their salaries upon being hired and years of service in the university system.

Aiken woman faces charges in stabbing

A 29-year-old Aiken woman was arrested Wednesday and charged with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature.

Trinika Lashawn Coats, of the 200 block of Hudson Road, stabbed another woman in the lower left leg and left foot April 22, according to an arrest warrant from the Aiken County Sheriff's Office.

- From staff reports