Across the area

Ozone levels yield warning

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control issued an increased ozone level warning Wednesday for Aiken, Edgefield, McCormick and Barnwell counties.

The warning remains in effect until 3:30 p.m. today.

Ozone levels were normal Wednesday, but the agency advised that people with respiratory problems, such as asthma, and active children and adults avoid prolonged outdoor exertion.

Ground-level ozone increases during hot, dry stagnant weather, said Adam Myrick, a DHEC spokesman.

People can limit the formation of ozone at ground-level by pumping gas after 6 p.m. and carpooling.

Woman is killed when rental truck hits tree

A woman died late Wednesday afternoon after a rented moving truck she was driving crashed head-on into a tree in south Augusta, officials said.

Richmond County Deputy Coroner Charlena Graham said police got a call about the accident in the 3200 block of Milledgeville Road at 5:22 p.m.

She said the woman, in her late 40s, was driving a U-Haul truck east on Milledgeville Road when, for an unknown reason, she lost control of the truck and swerved toward the westbound side of the road.

The truck struck the curb and then the tree, Ms. Graham said. The victim's identity was withheld pending notification of the next-of-kin.

Three arrested in drug raid in Beech Island

Aiken County sheriff's investigators arrested three people Tuesday night and seized drugs and cash in a raid on a Beech Island home.

After getting a tip, investigators served a search warrant on the home on the 200 block of Swamp Road, finding cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana, ecstasy and hashish.

Arrested were Eric L. Elam, 31, of North Augusta; Amy M. Rich, 22, of Jackson; and Rebecca Addison, 31, of Beech Island.

Man gets 4 years for trying to hit officer

An Augusta man who set himself on fire after trying to run over a sheriff's officer pleaded guilty Wednesday.

In Richmond County Superior Court, Michael Lee Raper, 44, admitted he was guilty of aggravated assault and third-degree arson for a Nov. 18 incident at his Pickerel Lane home.

Sgt. Steve Strickland reported he was at the Raper home in response to a domestic violence call when Mr. Raper accelerated his truck toward the officer. Mr. Raper then struck a shed with his truck, got out and poured gasoline on its engine. Mr. Raper was set ablaze, too.

Judge J. Carlisle Overstreet sentenced Mr. Raper to four years in prison followed by four years on probation.

Aiken residents asked to 'dime out' a dealer

The Aiken County Sheriff's Office has teamed up with Crimestoppers of the Midlands to encourage residents to report criminal activity, especially drug dealers.

Sheriff Mike Hunt announced the partnership Wednesday morning, saying the program "pays good money for good information."

A billboard near the intersection of Jefferson Davis Highway and South Carolina Highway 118 in Aiken asks residents to "dime out a drug dealer" by calling (888) 559-TIPS.

Callers can remain anonymous and are given a caller code, which they can use to check the progress of a case and claim a reward if it is solved.

Four plead not guilty to bank robbery spree

Four men pleaded not guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court to charges they took part in a two-state bank robbery spree.

The four were indicted earlier this month on charges they are responsible for armed holdups of banks in Augusta, Martinez and Evans and of banks in South Carolina this spring.

The four remain in state custody in South Carolina. U.S. District Judge W. Leon Barfield said he would hold detention hearings for the men if they are released on state charges.

The suspects are: Vincent Savageau, 26; Demetrius T. Freeman, 24; Isaac Doby, 52; and Adrian Branham, 33, the alleged ringleader.

Fire is reported at furniture business

An Augusta business caught fire early Wednesday.

The Richmond County Fire Department responded to Furniture Doctor at the 3300 block of Peach Orchard Road at 1:48 a.m.

Woman charged with hitting child on hand

A 43-year-old Wagener woman was arrested Tuesday and charged with cruelty to children.

According to an arrest warrant from the Aiken County Sheriff's Office, Linda F. Jones, of the 100 block of Wildflower Lane, hit a girl on her left hand with a broken mop handle Dec. 9, causing an injury that needed eight stitches to close.

Smoking causes fire at apartment complex

A fire broke out at an Augusta apartment complex Wednesday morning after a woman fell asleep smoking a cigarette, authorities said.

Richmond County Fire Department Battalion Chief Ivan Bolgla said the blaze started at 10:30 a.m. at Singleton Apartments in the 2400 block of Damascus Road.

A tenant in Building 7 of the complex was smoking when she dozed off on her sofa, Chief Bolgla said. By the time her roommate returned from getting the mail, the fire had spread extensively.

$18,000 in equipment taken from school site

The theft of $18,000 in equipment from the new Evans Middle School site was reported to Columbia County police Tuesday.

Two workers involved in the construction at 4785 Hereford Farm Road in Evans told authorities someone stole the equipment between June 13 and Tuesday, according to a Columbia County sheriff's incident report.

19-year-old gets prison term in rape of boy, 12

A 19-year-old Aiken resident was sent to a youthful offender prison Wednesday after pleading guilty to raping a 12-year-old boy on Memorial Day last year.

Leo "Trey" Shaw III, of the 1200 block of George Street, was sentenced to one year to six years under the state's Youthful Offender Act on a charge of committing a lewd act on a minor.

Assistant Solicitor Brenda Brisbin said the sentence was not part of a negotiated plea deal.

Aviation panel to talk about suit over cabs

The Augusta Aviation Commission plans to discuss a pending lawsuit against Radio Cab Co. this afternoon.

The lawsuit filed June 6 by seven independent cab companies alleged collusion and anti-trust violations.

The aviation commission also plans to consider changing rules for taxi and limousine services at the airport, officials said. The finance subcommittee meets at 3:30 p.m. The full commission meets at 4 p.m. Both meetings will be at 1501 Aviation Way, Augusta.

Intruders invade Hephzibah home

A 38-year-old Hephzibah woman said two people wearing masks entered her home Wednesday and pointed a handgun at her son before stealing electronics from the residence.

In a Richmond County sheriff's report, the woman said the intruders entered her house on the 2300 block of Prescott Place through a rear window and asked her son where money was kept in the residence.

They stole a laptop, portable DVD player and Nintendo Gamecube.

Aiken men indicted on cocaine charges

Two Aiken men were indicted in U.S. District Court in Columbia on Wednesday on drug charges.

Anthony Hooper was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and 50 grams or more of crack cocaine.

Joseph Prysock, 29, was charged in a five-count indictment with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine.

82-year-old avoids jail in drug-peddling case

An 82-year-old man accused of peddling prescription pills last summer pleaded guilty Wednesday.

"If you were 20 years younger I'd have locked you up," Judge J. Carlisle Overstreet told Robert A. Bargeron in Richmond County Superior Court.

He sentenced Mr. Bargeron instead to five years' probation for two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.

Mr. Bargeron was sentenced to life in prison in 1973 for murder in Liberty County, according to the Georgia Department of Corrections Web site.

Two sought in different cases of financial theft

Richmond County authorities are looking for two people associated with separate cases of financial theft.

Sheriff's Investigator Anita Hopson said Kumati Rhyne, 17, is wanted in the theft of checks from the home of his girlfriend's father.

In an unrelated matter, Karen Lyn Williams, 38, is accused of depositing $3,000 into a closed checking account at a Furys Ferry Road bank, then withdrawing the money from the phony account, according to Richmond County authorities.

Anyone with information about these cases can call Investigator Hopson at (706) 821-1020.

Man forced to drive to park by pair of robbers

A 23-year-old man said he was forced to drive from a gas station to an Augusta park and was then robbed by two men early Wednesday, according to a Richmond County sheriff's report.

The man said that while pumping gas at a Citgo on the 3400 block of Wrightsboro Road, he was forced at gunpoint to get back into his car, and was ordered to drive to M.M. Scott Park on Flagler Road.

At the park, the two men stole the victim's cell phone and wallet, the report said.

- From staff reports