Man arrested in beating death

Authorities arrested a 56-year-old man in the beating death of an Augusta man early Saturday.

Richard Hatcher is charged with murder in the death of Joseph Brooks, 56.

Mr. Brooks was found unconscious outside his home in the 1700 block of Wrightsboro Road. He was taken to Medical College of Georgia Hospital, where he died at 3:42 a.m. of head trauma caused by a single blow from a two-by-four, according Richmond County Deputy Coroner Charlena Graham.

Investigators arrested Mr. Hatcher at his home in the 2700 block of Woodcrest Drive.

The two men had been arguing about money, according to a news release from the sheriff's office.

The homicide makes 10 this year in Richmond County, twice as many as had occurred last year at this time, according to Lt. Scott Peebles.

Man out for walk is robbed by three men

A 39-year-old Augusta man told police he was robbed early Saturday by three men while he was out walking.

According to a Richmond County sheriff's report, the victim was walking on Luckey Street at about 3 a.m. when a man approached him from behind and grabbed him by the neck. One of the men knocked the victim to the ground and began punching him.

Two other men rifled through the victim's pocket, stealing his wallet that contained $50 and a Samsung camera phone.

Woman is mugged at gunpoint downtown

A 25-year-old Evans woman told police a man wearing a mask pulled a gun and stole her purse as she walked to her car early Saturday.

According to a Richmond County sheriff's report, the woman said she was walking to her car parked behind a business on Broad Street at about 2 a.m. when she turned around and saw a man pointing a black revolver at her.

The victim said the man demanded she give him everything she had.

The man took the woman's black leather purse, containing $150, identification, debit cards and car keys. The man then ran toward Greene Street.

Lane closures coming to Washington Road

The Georgia Department of Transportation has ordered lane closures on Washington Road at Davis Road on Monday and Tuesday, a press release said. The closures will take place from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., the release said.

There will be a single lane of traffic open that will be shared. Columbia County sheriff's deputies will be on site to control the traffic flow each night.

Lane closures also will take place on two other roads.

The northbound lane of East Boundary Road from Watkins Street to Broad Street will be closed from Monday to June 8.

The eastbound lanes of the 100 block of Greene Street will be closed from Wednesday to June 8.

School board to hold bomb threat meeting

A special meeting has been called to discuss the rash of bomb threats in Richmond County schools.

There have been more than 100 bomb threats in Richmond County this school year. At some schools, there have been multiple threats in a single day.

Interim Superintendent James Thompson, school board Director of Public Safety Julia Porter-Stein, senior school officials, judges, law enforcement and members of emergency management organizations will come together to discuss solutions to the growing problem.

The meeting will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the school board's offices, 864 Broad St., and is open to the public.

Man in drive-through line has car stolen

A 30-year-old man told police three men robbed him and stole his car Saturday while he waited at a drive-through lane of a fast food restaurant.

According to the Richmond County sheriff's report, the victim was in his 1992 Buick LaSabre waiting at McDonald's on Deans Bridge Road at 3 a.m. when he was pulled from his car by three men with a gun. The men hit him several times, stole his wallet and drove off in his car.

The car was found later with damage and a laptop computer and a car stereo missing.

Woman says boyfriend beat, threatened her

A 25-year-old North Augusta man was arrested Saturday after police said he beat his girlfriend and threatened her with a meat cleaver.

Ravanell Gomillion is charged with aggravated criminal domestic violence and is being held at the Aiken County Detention Center. Bond has not been set.

Police said that at about 8:30 a.m. Friday, Mr. Gomillion became violent toward his 26-year-old girlfriend when she tried to break up with him, according to a North Augusta Department of Public Safety report.

The victim told police that the suspect shoved, punched, kicked and strangled her and that when she fell to the floor, he grabbed a meat cleaver.

The woman said her boyfriend eventually fell asleep and she climbed out of a window, according to the report.

Shot is fired at car as driver speeds away

A 17-year-old told police that three men tried to get into his car and fired a bullet at the vehicle when he sped away.

According to a Richmond County sheriff's report, the victim was in his vehicle on 13th Street at Reynolds Street at 11:45 p.m. Friday when three men approached and tried to open the right front door.

A passenger in the car pushed one of the men away. When the victim drove away, a shot was fired at the vehicle, hitting the right rear door, according to the report.