Across the area

Augusta teen arrested in December robbery

An Augusta teen was arrested Tuesday in an armed robbery that was reported in December outside an Augusta business.

James Tyre Teen, of the 500 block of Blum Street, was charged with armed robbery and booked at the Richmond County jail, according to jail records.

According to a sheriff's office incident report, the robbery occurred Dec. 22 in the parking lot of CK Food Store on Deans Bridge Road.

A woman said a man approached her as she was trying to enter her car, began a conversation and then pointed a gun at her head, saying "give it up."

The woman said she gave the man a gold necklace valued at $1,200 and $600 in cash. The man then reportedly fled in a car.

Business disrupted by damaged data lines

A wreck disrupted operations at the Columbia County Motor Vehicle Division on Tuesday.

Tax Commissioner Kay Allen said a car hit a call box about 12:30 p.m. on Ronald Reagan Drive and damaged data lines needed by the Motor Vehicle Division.

Mrs. Allen said she doesn't expect operations to return to normal before noon today.

Waterfowl group chief pleads guilty to fraud

The former president of the Georgia Waterfowl Association pleaded guilty Tuesday to bank fraud.

Kenneth Patisaul, 61, admitted in U.S. District Court that he used the association's bank accounts from January 2006 to July 2007 to take $17,000 for his own use.

FBI Special Agent Brian Ozden testified Tuesday that the association's board members came to the FBI in November 2007. They were concerned that donations to the nonprofit organization were not being used as intended, Agent Ozden said.