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Southbound lanes of Largo Drive were closed to traffic this morning in front of Windsor Forest High School as Metro Police investigate an accident in which a child was struck by a car.

The child has been transported to Memorial University Medical Center for treatment.

Police have issued a warning to operators of a growing number of motor scooters to lock them when not in use.

Thirty-six of the two-wheelers have been reported stolen in the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department jurisdiction, 30 of them since June 1. Only seven had been secured with a locking device.

“These scooters are growing in popularity, but they are relatively easy for thieves to pick up and steal,” said Acting Chief Julie Tolbert. “Many of the victims of these thefts are those who can least afford to lose them.”

Police suggest using a chain or cable to secure the scooters to a fixed object, a la bicycles.

A transitional center inmate faces new charges, including assault on an officer, after he was arrested by Metro officers who surrounded a house he was burglarizing on a recent afternoon.

Dennis Akins, an inmate at the Coastal Transitional Center in Savannah, was arrested on Barnard Street at West Hall Street after he kicked out and jumped from a second-story window.

Downtown Precinct patrol officers subdued him with a taser when he fought them. He has been charged with burglary, aggravated assault of a police officer and possession of a firearm in committing a crime.

He had burglarized an apartment in the building, taking items including a handgun which he attempted to point at a Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police officer. The ammunition clip in the gun dislodged when he tried to raise it and it struck a stairway handrail.

Akins was serving his 33rd month of a 15-year sentence for burglary and thefts in Laurens County. He previously had been released in March 2010 after serving 26 months of a 10-year term for similar charges, also in Laurens County.

Sections of Broughton Street between Montgomery Street & Habersham Street will be closed to traffic from October 9-18 to allow for the filming of SpongeBob 2. Some adjacent streets will be impacted as well. Local businesses will remain open and pedestrian traffic will be allowed during filming.

Broughton Street merchants will have vouchers to give to customers that allow two free hours of parking in the Whitaker Street (located at Whitaker and Bay), State Street (State and Abercorn), and Robbie Robinson (Montgomery and York) garages, all of which are located within one block of Broughton. After two hours, regular rates will begin to apply ($2/hr in Whitaker St. Garage; $1/hr in State St. and Robinson garages).

Road closures and parking restrictions will consist of:

Wednesday, October 9, through Friday, October 11

· Broughton St., between Lincoln St. & Bull St. - 5:00AM until 8:00PM, DAILY

· Drayton St., between State St. & Congress Lane - 9:00AM, Oct. 9th, until 8:00PM, Oct. 11th

· Abercorn St., between Bryan St. & Congress St. - 5:00AM until noon, Oct. 9th

· Congress St., between Drayton St. & Lincoln St. - 10:00AM until noon, Oct. 9th

· Abercorn St., between State St. & Congress St. - 5:00AM until 8:00PM, Oct. 11th

Saturday, October 12

· Broughton St., between Jefferson St. & Bull St. - 5:00AM until 8:00PM

· Bull St., between Broughton St. & State St. - 5:00AM until 8:00PM

· Barnard St., between State St. & Congress St. - 5:00AM until 8:00PM

Monday, October 14, through Wednesday, October 16

· Broughton St., between Montgomery St. & Lincoln St. - 5:00AM until 8:00PM, DAILY

· Intermittent closures may occur for Montgomery St., Jefferson St., Barnard St., Whitaker St., Bull St., Drayton St., Abercorn St., and Lincoln St.

Thursday, October 17, through Friday, October 18

· Broughton St., between Drayton St. & Habersham St. - 5:00AM until 8:00PM, DAILY

· Abercorn St., between Congress St. & State St. - 5:00AM until 8:00PM, DAILY

· Lincoln St., between Congress St. & State St. - 5:00AM until 8:00PM, DAILY

· Lincoln St., between Congress St. & State St. - 5:00AM until 8:00PM, DAILY

Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department Interim Chief Julie Tolbert and Acting Assistant Chief Terry Enoch have "made some changes to the command staff," says a spokesman.

Effective Sunday, Capt. Ben Herron will move from the Criminal Investigations Division to take command of the Downtown Precinct. This position was vacated by Acting Major Mike Wilkins.

Capt. Carl Ramey will leave his post as Afternoon Captain and will become a supervisor over the Criminal Investigations Division.

Southside Precinct Lt. Ramona Famble will become the acting director of the Savannah Impact Program which was vacated by now Acting Assistant Chief Terry Enoch.

Chief Tolbert is "sad to announce the retirement of Acting Major Mike Wilkins. Today Wilkins informed the chief and City Manager Stephanie Cutter he is leaving the department to take a job in the private sector." Wilkins has worked for the SCMPD for 23 years.

Interim Chief Julie Tolbert said, “I wish Wilkins the best of luck with his new job. I am very happy for him. We have worked closely together for many years and I am sad to see him go.”

The motorcyclist critically injured in a crash in west Chatham County on Wednesday has died.

David Hardy, 63, of a Croatan Street address, died at Memorial University Medical Center where he was transported for treatment. A passenger, Sarah Napier, 73, of Dallas GA, received non-life threatening injuries in the 12:01 p.m. crash.

They were riding a Yamaha V-Star and were attempting to exit Fort Argyle Road at Old River Road when the motorcycle ran off the edge of the roadway and he lost control. Both were thrown from the motorcycle.

The Savannah Bank is taking action to help the Meals On Wheels program of Senior Citizens, Inc.

"Due to Federal cuts through Sequestration and the current Federal government shutdown, the organization is facing large cuts to this and other programs that are provided to help older adults age successfully in their homes," a spokesperson says. "Recognizing the devastating impact these cuts will have on the community, The Savannah Bank is donating $2,500 to the meals program."

The Meals on Wheels program provides more than 3,500 home-delivered meals to homebound seniors and an additional 4,500 meals for congregate sites such as neighborhood senior centers each week.

“I am glad we were able to assist in purchasing meals for seniors to help them through this temporary disruption of services,” said Holden Hayes, president, The Savannah Bank. “This is a much needed program that I hope others in the community will step up to support.”

Under sequestration, more than $138,000 has already been cut from the organization’s programs and services this year — a loss of over 18% of federal and state funding over the previous year. Senior Citizens, Inc. executive director Patti Lyons said that almost all of the programs and services of SCI are affected by the federal cuts and government shutdown.

“All of the federal funding we receive goes to serve the highest need — lowest income adult,” explained Lyons. “We have funds to continue service for 45 days but unless an agreement is found in Congress by then, there will be a lot of people who are not going to be fed, cared for and supported. This hurts us all and we are very grateful to The Savannah Bank and others who have come forward with financial support.”

Detectives are investigating the reported shooting and robbery of a Savannah man this past Wednesday afternoon.

Robert Ward, 26, of the 1300 block of East 57th Street escaped serious injury and refused emergency medical treatment after the 12:02 p.m. incident in the Sunset Park neighborhood of east Savannah.

The victim told responding Islands Precinct patrol officers that he was in the driveway when two males approached, one armed with a handgun. He said he ran into the house and the gunman fired and followed him into the house and robbed him.

The suspects were described as black males; about 5-8 to 5-10, wearing blue jeans. One was one wearing a black shirt and the other a white shirt. The gunman in the white shirt had a very short afro haircut.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Crimestoppers at (912) 234-2020 or text CRIMES (274637). Tipsters remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward. A confidential Tip Line also is open directly to investigators at (912) 525-3124.

Due to the shutdown of much of the federal government beginning today, the Savannah Coastal Refuges (Pinckney Island, Savannah, Tybee Island, Wassaw, Harris Neck, Blackbeard Island and Wolf Island) will be closed to the public.

"While a lapse in appropriations remains in effect, public access to Service properties will be prohibited and fish and wildlife management activities and public programs will be cancelled," says a spokesperson.

"This includes the archery hunt on Savannah NWR that begins on October 1. Once the shutdown has ended and the refuges re-open, all activities including hunting will resume as normal."

A full schedule of refuge hunts, including other refuges within the Complex, can be found here.

Additional information is available at DOI.gov/shutdown and oneINTERIOR.gov, as well as at OPM.gov, which will contain information about the government’s operating status on Tuesday, October 1, and the days following.

With rumors mounting over the previous 24 hours, a hurried press conference late Friday afternoon finally affirmed what was suspected: Savannah Metro Police Chief Willie Lovett would retire from the force, effective immediately.

The retirement comes in the wake of an ongoing investigation of allegations by a female officer that Lovett sexually harassed her.

The announcement from the City directly references the allegations: “The City of Savannah received a complaint concerning Chief Lovett, and continues to investigate that matter.” However, citing the ongoing investigation, no further comment was provided.

In a written and also somewhat telling statement, the outgoing Chief Lovett said “The City of Savannah, County of Chatham and law enforcement have been my focus for the past 40 years and I have enjoyed every moment…. I had previously decided to retire within the next 60 days, but had decided to do so immediately.”

Though the Savannah police department is a consolidated city/county force, the police chief reports directly to the City Manager’s office, and hence City Manager Stephanie Cutter was the main point person for the resignation.

“Today, I and County Manager Russ Abolt accepted the retirement notice effective immediately of Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Chief Willie Lovett following 40 years of service,” wrote Cutter in a statement.

“While Metro Police serves both the City of Savannah and the Unincorporated Chatham County, the Chief of Police is a City of Savannah employee. I will consult with Mr. Abolt, together with the rest of the Police Policy Committee — including the Mayor and Commission Chairman — to create a process on the selection of a new Police Chief."

Named as Acting Chief of Police is Major Juliette Tolbert, a Savannah State University graduate who joined the force in 1981 and was promoted to major in 1997.