Local news in brief for Nov. 5
Police seek man in Sunday holdup
North Augusta Department of Public Safety investigators are searching for the man who entered the Dollar General on Knox Avenue in North Augusta and hid, waiting for the store to close, before holding up the store, officials said.
A few minutes after closing time Sunday evening, a man wearing a ski mask and black jacket came out of hiding and ordered the employees to lie on the floor.
The man took the night's money and cash from the register drawer.
He left the area, running in an unknown direction.
The suspect is described as a black male between 5 feet 5 inches and 5 feet 10 inches tall. He weighs between 145 and 155 pounds. He has short hair with cornrows.
Anyone with information on this crime is asked to contact North Augusta Public Safety at 279-2121.
Robbery suspect jailed in Richmond
A 43-year-old man has been jailed on allegations he stole a purse containing a checkbook from a woman in Williston, tried to cash one of the checks at the First Citizens Bank in Beech Island and then led police on a pursuit into Georgia after he attempted to rob another woman, officials said.
Larry Jerome Rainey was arrested in Richmond County on Tuesday evening and taken to the Richmond County Detention Center.
He faces pending criminal charges from Georgia and will remain incarcerated until he is extradited to South Carolina, where he will be charged with armed robbery, officials said.
Around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, a man approached the second woman, 53-year-old Sharon McBride, while she was loading her car with recently purchased merchandise from the Shoppes at North Augusta. The man told her not to move, but believing a friend was playing a joke on her, she turned around. A man was pointing a black semi-automatic pistol at her stomach. She immediately began to scream, stated Detective Tim Thornton, a North Augusta Department of Public Safety spokesperson.
"Startled by her reaction, the suspect jumped in his car and left the parking lot to Knox Avenue," the detective said.
Witnesses told police the suspect was driving an old black-and-white police car last seen headed west on Martintown Road toward Georgia Avenue.
Officers in an unmarked patrol vehicle observed the suspect headed down Georgia Avenue toward the 13th Street bridge, headed into Georgia.
North Augusta Public Safety relayed this information to the Richmond County Sheriff's Office, and deputies responded to the downtown Augusta area. North Augusta officers continued to follow the suspect at a normal speed. The suspect was unaware that law enforcement officers were behind him, officials said.
Richmond County deputies initiated a traffic stop, but the suspect quickly accelerated.
The suspect turned onto the on-ramp to I-520 (Bobby Jones Expressway) headed back toward South Carolina when he lost control of the vehicle, Thornton stated.
The vehicle spun to a complete stop, and the driver exited the vehicle and attempted to run; however, deputies were there to arrest him.
The suspect jumped out of his car while leaving it in gear.
It rolled down the ramp, striking a North Augusta Public Safety vehicle.
The driver was taken into police custody. He was the only motorist in the vehicle.
District to look into bus driver case
The Aiken County School District has placed an Area 1 school bus driver on administrative leave while district administrators investigate allegations that he struck a 6-year-old student in the face.
School Board attorney Bill Burkhalter said Associate Superintendent Dr. Cecilia Davidson will handle most of the investigation, which should be completed in seven to 10 days.
The mother of the child filed a police report with the Aiken Department of Public Safety. Burkhalter said the department is looking at the allegations independently of the school district.
According to the incident report, police found bruises on the child's face and arm.
University Band to perform Monday
The USC Aiken University Band will present a concert of classic and contemporary band music at the Etherredge Center Monday at 8 p.m.
The concert was postponed from a performance previously scheduled for tonight. Tickets are $5 for the general public, with students admitted for free with student IDs.
Selections include the "First Suite in E-flat" by Gustav Holst, "Chorale and Alleluia" by Howard Hanson and "Esprit de Corps" by Robert Jager. The University Band is comprised of USCA students of various areas of study who share a love for instrumental music.