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The Chatham County Drop-off Centers including the Resource Conservation Education Center "will no longer accept food and beverage glass for recycling," a Chatham County spokesperson says.

"This change comes about because Pratt Industries, LLC will no longer be accepting glass for recycling. The only other glass recyclers in our region are located in Jacksonville and Atlanta. Because of transportation costs and logistics along with a very low market value for any types of food and beverage glass to offset that cost it was concluded that the only alternative was to discontinue collection of glass at all Chatham County drop-off centers," the spokesperson says.

The Resource Conservation Center
1321 Eisenhower Dr.
Savannah, GA 31406

Wilmington Island Drop-Off Center
7022 Concord Road
Savannah, GA 31410

Sharon Park Drop-Off Center
50 Kelly Hill Road
Garden City, GA 31408

Chevis Road Drop-Off Center
610 Chevis Road
Savannah, GA 31419

Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police are investigating a homicide which occurred just after 11 p.m. Friday night.

Michael Anthony Johnson, 50, was shot at the intersection of 42nd and Montgomery streets. Johnson was transported to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police are investigating the death of a black male found near the 7400 block of LaRoche Avenue.

The body was discovered about 6:30 a.m. on Saturday morning.

Detectives have identified the victim as Ricardo James Morris, 38. Police are investigating his death as a homicide. 

Approximately 1 AM Saturday morning, a robbery was reported in the 100 Block of West Bryan Street. The victim was approached by the suspect "who implied he had a gun then snatched the victim's Crown Royal bag from her arm," reports say.

He fled eastbound on foot. The bag contained $15, and some identification cards. No injuries reported.

At 1:20 am on July 9, a robbery was reported in the 100 block of Houston Street. "The victim was walking home when he was approached by three juveniles, who he had first seen on Broughton Lane," according to reports.

"Once they caught up to him, they threatened him and demanded his belongings. One stated that he had a gun and would kill him, but no weapon was seen."

According to reports, the suspects "got the keys to the victim's truck and went inside. The three were seen fleeing the area by a deputy, and police units quickly responded."

All three suspects were taken into custody. 

Two men face multiple charges "after crashing into the lawn of a fire station while trying to elude police and narrowly missing firefighters who were guiding a fire engine into its garage," police say.

John Calvin Baker, 23, of the first block of Altman Circle, and Hakeem Ramona Campbell, 24, of the 2000 block of Bonna Bella Avenue, were taken into custody after being chased down on foot by residents, Savannah Fire and Rescue firefighters, Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police, and a Metro K9
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The men were occupying a white, 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe SUV "that had been sought as a suspect vehicle in several Wilmington Island burglaries that crashed into shrubbery and landscape timbers at the fire station on Bee Road about 5:30 p.m.," police say.
"Officers had been following the car for some time when a marked unit attempted a traffic stop. When the SUV sped away instead of stopping, the officer discontinued his pursuit but K9 and undercover officers saturating the area kept the car in sight," police say.

The SUV continued to speed through traffic, running other cars of the road until it approached the fire engine being backed into the station with a number of fire fighters standing in front and directing it.

"The Hyundai attempted to drive around the fire engine and firefighters, crashing into shrubbery and timbers," police say.

Campbell was pursued on foot and captured by residents, including a retired Metro detective. Baker was apprehended by K9 Toro and treated on the scene for bite marks when he struggled with the police dog.

"Both men have extensive histories with area law enforcement including several arrests for probation violation," police say. "Various drugs, a weapon, ammunition and cell phones were seized from the car and from the suspects."

Campbell was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, obstruction, burglary, providing false name and address to police, use of communication devices for criminal purposes, sale of controlled substance and failure to appear in court.

Baker was charged with driving with a suspended license, reckless driving, fleeing to elude, obstruction, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a controlled substance/ crack cocaine, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of tools for commission of a crime, theft of lost/mislaid property, leaving the scene of an accident, failure to notify after hitting an object, failure to report an accident and probation violation.

"In response to a sudden spike in large dog breeds at Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department’s animal shelter, the Animal Control Division has launched the Big Mutt Campaign to reduce the numbers," a police spokesperson says.

The Big Mutt Campaign focuses on "cutting the number of dogs weighing more than 49 pounds. Currently, there are 10 large breed dogs at the shelter," the spokesperson says.

Until Saturday, Aug. 1, Big Mutt adoption costs will be reduced to $50 to include vaccines, testing, spay and neuter waivers and microchipping. Dog adoptions usually are $70.

Adoptions of small dogs also are encouraged. Small dog adoption costs also are reduced to $50.

Animal Control’s adoptable pets can be viewed online at www.adoptapet.com. The shelter is open from 1 - 4:30 p.m. daily, except for holidays. It is at 7211 Sallie Mood Drive.

Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police are investigating the shooting of a man "in a suspected domestic dispute" Sunday afternoon.

Antwan Bush, 19, of the 5200 block of Franklin Street in the Tatemville neighborhood was transported for treatment of a wound at the time considered non-life threatening after the 1:05 p.m. incident in front of his house.

"Central Precinct patrol officers had arrived at 1:07 p.m. to find him injured," police say. "He was unwilling to talk to officers at the time."

Metro homicide Investigators have charged a 19-year-old Savannah man with murder in the death of a man found dead in a stolen car June 21.

Arheem Jamal DeLoach was served with the arrest warrant at the Chatham County Detention Center where he was being held on unrelated charges.

He is charged in the death of Jamell Dwayne Law of the 4000 block of Columbia Avenue who was found in a red Dodge Neon on June 21. Law was declared dead at the scene.

"The car had crashed on West 41st Street at the end of Harden Street where it driven into the steps of a vacant house at 10:31 p.m.," police say. "The Neon had been reported stolen from a commercial burglary."

DeLoach previously had been charged by Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police on June 24 with theft by receiving stolen property, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in the commission of a crime. He had been arrested on the 2100 block of Montgomery Street by undercover police officers investigating a stolen vehicle parked nearby. Police found a pistol stolen in December 2014 hidden in the area where he was located in the store.

"Unsecured tanks containing volatile substances have been identified as the cause of an explosion in downtown Savannah that caused no serious injuries," a police spokesperson says about last night's explosion downtown, heard by thousands of people and widely feared at the time to be a possible terrorist or hate crime incident.

Explosive Ordnance Device detectives "traced the cause to an open valve on one of the tanks on the back of the pickup truck that ignited when the truck made an abrupt stop, jostling the items in the bed," police say.

The ensuing explosion littered the first block of Montgomery Street with flattened sheet metal, tools and other items. Several vehicles parked in the area sustained slight damage, along with damage to the Hilton Garden Inn hotel.

“We were very fortunate that no pedestrians or drivers were in the area at the time,” said Downtown Precinct Capt. Ben Herron. “Had this happened on a weekend we could have had a large crowd in the area.”

The explosion was reported at 8:47 p.m. as a white Ford F-150 pickup containing air conditioning equipment and supplies attempted to turn into the lane behind the hotel. "When Theodore John Froehlich II, 56, of Gulfport, MS, driver of the truck, stopped for a small SUV trying to back up in front of him, an explosion occurred," police say.

"A bystander with military training pulled the driver from the vehicle and Savannah Fire and Rescue vehicles responded as police cordoned off a six-block area," the spokesperson says. "Froehich was determined to have only a small cut on his forearm and no other injuries were reported. Firefighters quickly confirmed that no hazardous chemicals remained on the scene."

Tanks in the truck were filled with acetylene, oxygen, carbon dioxide and refrigerant. The truck is owned by Tidewater, Inc.