Friday, January 23, 2015
Savannah City Council approved an ordinance Thursday that makes “complete streets” the standard when designing and constructing new roadways in the City of Savannah.
Complete streets are "streets that contribute to a safe, convenient or comfortable travel experience for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motor vehicle drivers and public transportation riders. Moving forward, new road construction will be designed, to the extent practicable, with amenities such as sidewalks and bicycle lanes that facilitate multiple modes of transportation," a City spokesperson says.
“I am very supportive of these efforts,” said Alderwoman Mary Ellen Sprague. “The people in my district are big walkers and bikers. This will make a huge difference for the future of our community.”
The nonprofit Healthy Savannah Inc. worked with City leaders to develop the Complete Streets Ordinance, which was one of the organization’s priorities as part of a three-year Healthcare Georgia Foundation grant to combat childhood obesity.
“We applaud the City for taking this critical step toward making our streets safe, appealing and convenient for all citizens and visitors, no matter what form of transportation they use,” said John Bennett, executive director of the Savannah Bicycle Campaign and a member of the Health Savannah coalition. “Savannah is now positioned to enjoy the economic, public safety, public health and other benefits that Complete Streets provide.”
Complete streets are "streets that contribute to a safe, convenient or comfortable travel experience for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motor vehicle drivers and public transportation riders. Moving forward, new road construction will be designed, to the extent practicable, with amenities such as sidewalks and bicycle lanes that facilitate multiple modes of transportation," a City spokesperson says.
“I am very supportive of these efforts,” said Alderwoman Mary Ellen Sprague. “The people in my district are big walkers and bikers. This will make a huge difference for the future of our community.”
The nonprofit Healthy Savannah Inc. worked with City leaders to develop the Complete Streets Ordinance, which was one of the organization’s priorities as part of a three-year Healthcare Georgia Foundation grant to combat childhood obesity.
“We applaud the City for taking this critical step toward making our streets safe, appealing and convenient for all citizens and visitors, no matter what form of transportation they use,” said John Bennett, executive director of the Savannah Bicycle Campaign and a member of the Health Savannah coalition. “Savannah is now positioned to enjoy the economic, public safety, public health and other benefits that Complete Streets provide.”
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Charles Leonard Mobley
Mobley is described as a black male standing 5-4 and weighing 145. He wears a short haircut. "Mobley is known to frequent east Savannah and Yamacraw Village," police say.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Crimestoppers at (912) 234-2020 or text CRIMES (274637) using the keyword CSTOP2020. Tipsters remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.
A tip line also is open directly to investigators at (912) 525-3124 and most area clergy have agreed to serve as liaisons for anyone who would like to share information with police anonymously.
Metro Police are investigating "three shootings that left four injured Monday, including one that was fatal and a second in which the victim was arrested on other charges," a spokesman says.
One man died after he was shot in front of an apartment on the 1900 block of East 51st street about 7 p.m. His name has not been released by investigators.
Earlier, about 2:30 p.m., Rakeem Wright, 24, reported "he was talking to some women on the first block of West 62nd Street when he was shot by someone in a passing car," police say.
"He provided false information to Central Precinct officers who discovered 10 outstanding warrants against him," they add.
A second victim, Regeria Lynch, 19, arrived at a hospital hours later for treatment of her wound. Neither injury was believed to be life-threatening.
Just after midnight Sunday, Aaron Wurtsbaugh, 45, arrived at St. Joseph’s Hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound to his arm. He reported "he was delivering pizza at an apartment complex on the 12000 block of Middleground Road when a masked male attempted to rob him and fired at his car as he sped away."
Anyone with information is asked to call Crimestoppers at (912) 234-2020 or text CRIMES (274637) using the keyword CSTOP2020. Tipsters remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.
One man died after he was shot in front of an apartment on the 1900 block of East 51st street about 7 p.m. His name has not been released by investigators.
Earlier, about 2:30 p.m., Rakeem Wright, 24, reported "he was talking to some women on the first block of West 62nd Street when he was shot by someone in a passing car," police say.
"He provided false information to Central Precinct officers who discovered 10 outstanding warrants against him," they add.
A second victim, Regeria Lynch, 19, arrived at a hospital hours later for treatment of her wound. Neither injury was believed to be life-threatening.
Just after midnight Sunday, Aaron Wurtsbaugh, 45, arrived at St. Joseph’s Hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound to his arm. He reported "he was delivering pizza at an apartment complex on the 12000 block of Middleground Road when a masked male attempted to rob him and fired at his car as he sped away."
Anyone with information is asked to call Crimestoppers at (912) 234-2020 or text CRIMES (274637) using the keyword CSTOP2020. Tipsters remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.
Monday, January 19, 2015
Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police are investigating two shootings over the weekend, including one that was fatal to a Savannah man.
David Rashamel Goldwire, 23, was found "deceased in the yard of a duplex on the 2100 block of Clars Avenue Saturday when Islands Precinct Patrol officers responded to a shots-fired call at 6:47 p.m.," police say.
On Friday, Jacob Grant, 26, reported "he was shot through the back window of his vehicle when someone attempted to rob him in the Oak Forrest Apartments on Oak Forrest Drive about 10 p.m.'
He drove to a residence on Gary Avenue in the Tatemville area where he called police. He was transported to Memorial University Medical Center for treatment of a wound that was considered non-life threatening.
Anyone with information on either case is asked to call Crimestoppers at (912) 234-2020 or text CRIMES (274637) using the keyword CSTOP2020. Tipsters remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.
A Tip Line also is open directly to investigators at (912) 525-3124 and most area clergy have agreed to serve as liaisons for anyone who would like to share information with police anonymously.
David Rashamel Goldwire, 23, was found "deceased in the yard of a duplex on the 2100 block of Clars Avenue Saturday when Islands Precinct Patrol officers responded to a shots-fired call at 6:47 p.m.," police say.
On Friday, Jacob Grant, 26, reported "he was shot through the back window of his vehicle when someone attempted to rob him in the Oak Forrest Apartments on Oak Forrest Drive about 10 p.m.'
He drove to a residence on Gary Avenue in the Tatemville area where he called police. He was transported to Memorial University Medical Center for treatment of a wound that was considered non-life threatening.
Anyone with information on either case is asked to call Crimestoppers at (912) 234-2020 or text CRIMES (274637) using the keyword CSTOP2020. Tipsters remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.
A Tip Line also is open directly to investigators at (912) 525-3124 and most area clergy have agreed to serve as liaisons for anyone who would like to share information with police anonymously.
A three-week investigation into the death of a North Carolina man whose body was found near Georgia Highway 204 on Dec. 23 has led to the murder charges against two suspects.
Kevin Da Palmer, 23, and Genevieve Elizabeth Meeks, 20, both of Savannah were charged Saturday by Homicide detectives from the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department with murder, malice murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.
The investigation has been ongoing since the body of William Fredric Whitsett was found just west of King George Boulev ard in December. An autopsy revealed he had been shot. The investigation is continuing.
Kevin Da Palmer, 23, and Genevieve Elizabeth Meeks, 20, both of Savannah were charged Saturday by Homicide detectives from the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department with murder, malice murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.
The investigation has been ongoing since the body of William Fredric Whitsett was found just west of King George Boulev ard in December. An autopsy revealed he had been shot. The investigation is continuing.
Palmer
Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police have warrants charging Nelaunte Grant, 20, with aggravated battery, criminal damage to property and three counts of cruelty to children in the first degree.
She is a black female, 5-foot-6, and weighing 162 pounds.
She was identified as "the woman who broke the windshield of a car and cut a 26-year-old woman with a knife during a fight between several women at a school bus stop a Liberty Parkway and Vasser street about 4:15 p.m. Monday," police say.
The victim was transported to a hospital for treatment.
Anyone with information on her location is asked to call Crimestoppers at (912) 234-2020 or text CRIMES (274637) using the keyword CSTOP2020. Tipsters remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.
Sunday, January 18, 2015
A multi-agency investigation led by Metro Police "has led to the arrest of a Garden City man and the seizure of materials to construct a bomb he had threatened to deploy," police say.
David Nolan Evans, 40, was arrested after a search of his Garden City residence "led Metro bomb technicians to discover and seize explosive materials and additional components to build an actual bomb."
He has been charged with terroristic threats and acts, possession of a hoax device by a convicted felon, false public alarm and violation of probation. He also was charged with obstruction "after he broke free from officers and tried to run from the residence."
The action followed the discovery of a potential bomb device in the Savannah Probation Office last Monday. The area around the Probation Office and also houses a Social Security office on Southern Oaks Drive off Chatham Parkway was evacuated for several hours at the time.
The investigation included Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Tactical Investigation Unit agents, Explosive Ordinance Device (bomb squad) technicians, Federal Bureau of Investigation agents, and agents from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Since the device was located, "investigators pored over clues and Probation Office records to iden tify Evans as the suspect and obtain the warrant to search his residence," police say.
The device discovered in the Probation Office contained "all components of a bomb except explosive material. It was accompanied by a note warning that a future device would include that material," police say.
Additional calls to Emergency 911 threatened to deploy a larger device that would be armed in early February.
The SWAT-led warrant service on the residence on Priscilla D. Thomas Way about noon Friday "led to discovery of enough materials to fulfill that threat."
Evans, a registered sex offender who has been charged with probation violation at least four times, "has an extensive record with Metro Police and Chatham County law enforcement agencies," police say.
David Nolan Evans, 40, was arrested after a search of his Garden City residence "led Metro bomb technicians to discover and seize explosive materials and additional components to build an actual bomb."
He has been charged with terroristic threats and acts, possession of a hoax device by a convicted felon, false public alarm and violation of probation. He also was charged with obstruction "after he broke free from officers and tried to run from the residence."
The action followed the discovery of a potential bomb device in the Savannah Probation Office last Monday. The area around the Probation Office and also houses a Social Security office on Southern Oaks Drive off Chatham Parkway was evacuated for several hours at the time.
The investigation included Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Tactical Investigation Unit agents, Explosive Ordinance Device (bomb squad) technicians, Federal Bureau of Investigation agents, and agents from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Since the device was located, "investigators pored over clues and Probation Office records to iden tify Evans as the suspect and obtain the warrant to search his residence," police say.
The device discovered in the Probation Office contained "all components of a bomb except explosive material. It was accompanied by a note warning that a future device would include that material," police say.
Additional calls to Emergency 911 threatened to deploy a larger device that would be armed in early February.
The SWAT-led warrant service on the residence on Priscilla D. Thomas Way about noon Friday "led to discovery of enough materials to fulfill that threat."
Evans, a registered sex offender who has been charged with probation violation at least four times, "has an extensive record with Metro Police and Chatham County law enforcement agencies," police say.
Friday, January 16, 2015
One person is in custody "following the recovery of drugs, weapons and various items linked to multiple property crimes," police say.
Early Friday morning, members of the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team (CNT), Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department (SCMPD), State of Georgia Probation, Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, United States Marshals and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) conducted a search of a residence in the 1100 Block of East 36th Street in Savannah.
"Law enforcement found marijuana, marijuana plants, items commonly used to manufacture and distribute marijuana and four firearms," a CNT spokesman says. "Some of the firearms were found with altered serial numbers. Also recovered were items connected to various burglaries and entering autos reported within SCMPD’s Central, Southside and Islands Precincts."
CNT arrested 20-year-old Marques Deshaun Johnson. Johnson was charged with multiple felonies including Manufacturing Marijuana, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, four counts of Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony and Possession of a Firearm with an Altered Serial Number. Additional charges and arrests are expected.
SCMPD detectives are conducting investigations into the stolen items recovered.
Early Friday morning, members of the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team (CNT), Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department (SCMPD), State of Georgia Probation, Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, United States Marshals and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) conducted a search of a residence in the 1100 Block of East 36th Street in Savannah.
"Law enforcement found marijuana, marijuana plants, items commonly used to manufacture and distribute marijuana and four firearms," a CNT spokesman says. "Some of the firearms were found with altered serial numbers. Also recovered were items connected to various burglaries and entering autos reported within SCMPD’s Central, Southside and Islands Precincts."
CNT arrested 20-year-old Marques Deshaun Johnson. Johnson was charged with multiple felonies including Manufacturing Marijuana, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, four counts of Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony and Possession of a Firearm with an Altered Serial Number. Additional charges and arrests are expected.
SCMPD detectives are conducting investigations into the stolen items recovered.
Thursday, January 15, 2015
Investigators seek the public’s help identifying the suspects behind an entering auto and theft outside an east Savannah church, and a subsequent case of credit card fraud.
The entering auto occurred Thursday Jan. 15, at about 9:30 a.m. in the Bible Baptist Church Daycare parking lot, on the 4700 block of Skidaway Road.
"Investigators believe one suspect broke the parked SUV’s windows after noticing a purse on the front passenger seat," a police spokesperson says.
"About 45 minutes later, several large purchases were made using one of the stolen credit cards at Target, on the 1900 block of Victory Drive. Additional attempts to use the cards were made at least two more Savannah businesses."
Target surveillance cameras show two suspects making the fraudulent purchases just after 10 a.m. Both are described as black females in their late teens to early 20s, standing about 5-6. During the incident they both wore loose fitting hooded jackets.
The entering auto suspect is described as a black male, with a medium brown complexion, in his early to mid-20s. He stands about 6-2 and weighs 175 pounds. During the crime, he wore a black hooded shirt and blue jeans. He was last seen running north on Skidaway Road towards LaRoche Avenue.
The entering auto occurred Thursday Jan. 15, at about 9:30 a.m. in the Bible Baptist Church Daycare parking lot, on the 4700 block of Skidaway Road.
"Investigators believe one suspect broke the parked SUV’s windows after noticing a purse on the front passenger seat," a police spokesperson says.
"About 45 minutes later, several large purchases were made using one of the stolen credit cards at Target, on the 1900 block of Victory Drive. Additional attempts to use the cards were made at least two more Savannah businesses."
Target surveillance cameras show two suspects making the fraudulent purchases just after 10 a.m. Both are described as black females in their late teens to early 20s, standing about 5-6. During the incident they both wore loose fitting hooded jackets.
The entering auto suspect is described as a black male, with a medium brown complexion, in his early to mid-20s. He stands about 6-2 and weighs 175 pounds. During the crime, he wore a black hooded shirt and blue jeans. He was last seen running north on Skidaway Road towards LaRoche Avenue.
Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police investigators ask the public’s help in identifying the person, "who on two occasions committed armed robbery at Family Dollar locations," a spokesperson says.
The first robbery occurred Jan. 1, at Family Dollar on the 800 block of Habersham Street. The second incident was Jan. 7 on the 7300 block of Skidaway Road.
"In both cases, surveillance footage showed the suspect entering the stores and holding clerks at gunpoint while demanding cash, before fleeing on foot," police say. "The suspect was last seen running southbound on Habersham Street."
The suspect was last seen wearing a gray long sleeved thermal shirt, black pants and a gray skull cap. He is believed to be a black male in his early 20s, standing 5-7 to 5-10 and weighing 150 to 170. The suspect also has a beard.
Anyone with information on this case should call Crimestoppers at (912) 234-2020 or text CRIMES (274637) using the keyword CSTOP2020. Tipsters remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.
The first robbery occurred Jan. 1, at Family Dollar on the 800 block of Habersham Street. The second incident was Jan. 7 on the 7300 block of Skidaway Road.
"In both cases, surveillance footage showed the suspect entering the stores and holding clerks at gunpoint while demanding cash, before fleeing on foot," police say. "The suspect was last seen running southbound on Habersham Street."
The suspect was last seen wearing a gray long sleeved thermal shirt, black pants and a gray skull cap. He is believed to be a black male in his early 20s, standing 5-7 to 5-10 and weighing 150 to 170. The suspect also has a beard.
Anyone with information on this case should call Crimestoppers at (912) 234-2020 or text CRIMES (274637) using the keyword CSTOP2020. Tipsters remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.
