CRIME & SAFETY

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office is embroiled in a controversy following the dismissal of two deputies and the demotion of two others. Captain Brandon Beckman and Allison 'Allie' Walker were both dismissed, but the reason was not their shared affiliations, rather, they were let go for dishonesty about the circumstances. The Sheriff’s Office has not yet informed the Georgia's Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) about these departures.

A series of events involving a Richmond County Investigator, Brian Manecke, has recently surfaced. Brent Turner, a father of two girls allegedly affected by Manecke, expressed frustration regarding the situation.

It has been almost two weeks since Hailey Powell saw her 6-month-old puppy, "Stormie," and she fears the merle pit bull-American Bully mix was stolen by a someone looking to make money off of breeding. "It has been very heart-wrenching. She was just getting to the age where her personality...

RICHMOND COUNTY, Ga. — An investigator with a Georgia sheriff’s office was found dead in his car last week. The GBI confirmed to WJBF-TV that the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office reached out to the nearby Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office when they couldn’t reach Brian Manecke, 46. They say Manecke’s last known location according to GPS was in a rural area in north Lincoln County. According to the GBI, Manecke’s body was found several hours later in a personal car with an apparent gunshot wound.

GROVETOWN, Ga. - One woman is facing several charges and a man has lost his leg following a wrong-way crash on I-20 September 10th. FOX54 reported on September 10th Columbia County deputies were called to Interstate 20 westbound, just past the Grovetown exit for a head-on collision between a pickup truck and a semi-truck. According to investigators, the GMC Sierra was headed eastbound in the westbound lane. The semi-truck driver was unable to avoid the smaller vehicle, striking it head-on.

Last week, Richmond County was in the spotlight due to significant happenings in its education and law enforcement sectors. A major event surfaced on the education front, where a student was charged with assaulting a special education teacher.

If you have driven down a major Georgia street, there's a good chance you've seen a billboard advertising Morgan & Morgan Law Firm. Many look like they have been graffitied — but there is more to this story than meets the eye. The billboards in question look fairly normal, with printed messages like...

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – According to Augusta 911, Augusta Fire Department was called to a structure fire near the intersection at Barton Chapel Road and Wrightsboro Road shortly before noon Wednesday. The Augusta Fire Department confirms that they are responding to a former business, now abandoned, along Barton Chapel Road near Gerald Jones Ford. Those […]

A 19-year-old is behind bars after allegedly punching a Harlem High School teacher multiple times in the head and face. The incident took place at Harlem High School on Tuesday, and Ryying Lone Fleming was booked into the Columbia County jail hours later. The victim was "performing official duties" at...

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - A Richmond County Sheriff’s Office patrol car slammed through a fence in an Augusta yard during a vehicle pursuit. It happened around 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Battle Row and Metcalf Street, according to a report from deputies. The patrol car, a 2019 Dodge Charger, was...

The Richmond County Sheriff's Office is investigating two separate shootings in Augusta within 48 hours. Just after 10 p.m. Saturday night, deputies were called to the 400 block of East Boundary for a shooting, according to a news release. A man was shot at least once and transported to the hospital for treatment.

GROVETOWN, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - The Grovetown Police Department has found a missing 15-year-old. Emma Caldwell was last seen in the area of Lory Lane at 6:15 p.m.

This Sunday, Evans neighborhood, usually peaceful, was shaken by a devastating murder-suicide. Larry Jacobs, a 51-year-old Marine veteran and VA employee, is alleged to have shot 49-year-old Tijuana Dent, his former partner and mother of their 16-year-old son, before shooting himself.

The Richmond County Sheriff's Office is seeking the public's help in solving the murder of a 21-year-old in April 2022. JaJuan Marcell Russell, of Augusta, was shot and killed April 17, 2022 on the 3700 block of Oslo Road, according to previous reporting. Deputies found Russell unresponsive in the middle...

Two fatal shootings occurred in the neighborhoods of Evans and Augusta in Richmond County, a series of events which led to heightened concern within the community. One shooting took place in the afternoon where two individuals were found dead at a residential property; the case is still under investigation.

A series of violent incidents occurred in Augusta, Georgia last week. A man was shot and injured at Tobacco Road, while in a separate case, two bodies were found in a Columbia County home.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - A 21-year-old suspect has been arrested after a fatal shooting in Richmond County early Friday morning, according to authorities. The victim was identified as Dwayne Anthony Tillman II, 33, of the 2100 block Cadden Road, according to Richmond County Coroner Mark Bowen. Authorities say that at...

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - The Georgia Supreme Court on Tuesday unanimously upheld the murder conviction of a Richmond County suspect who claimed he was acting in self-defense. Walter G. Salvesen III was convicted of malice murder and other crimes in connection with the 2015 shooting death of Johnathan Martin. Salvesen...

AUGUSTA (WJBF) – A 2-vehicle crash is causing a detour in Richmond County. According to dispatch, the intersection of Central Avenue and Stovall Street is blocked after a crash. No injuries are reported, but drivers will need to find an alternate route,

An Aiken man is facing forgery charges after the State Law Enforcement Division said he used fraudulent vehicle titles from various states. Divonn Shaqui Johnson, 30, was arrested Sept. 15 and charged with three counts of forging a vehicle title, according to a media release from SLED. Warrants allege Johnson...