🌱 Man Shot During Road Rage Incident + Two Richmond Deputies Arrested

Hello again, Augusta! It's me, Michelle Paul, your host of the Augusta Patch newsletter. Here's all the community news you need to know right now.

But first, your local weather:

• Thursday: Plenty of sunshine. High: 87 Low: 60.
• Friday: Partly sunny and comfortable. High: 84 Low: 63.

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Here are the top three stories today in Augusta:

1. Deborah Griffin and Ellis Belton, two Richmond County deputies, are currently in jail after investigators received information that they were reportedly smuggling contraband into the Webster Detention Center. Investigators say they received a tip that the two had been bringing contraband into the center. After further investigation, Griffin and Belton were fired and charged with crossing guard lines with drugs and violating their oath of office. (WJBF-TV)
2. Officials from the Columbia County Sheriff's Office are investigating an incident where a woman allegedly doused a man in lighter fluid on Tuesday at the victim's home in nearby Martinez. Deputies responded to a call at the 4500 block of Jessie Road on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m., and according to an incident report, a 39-year-old man told deputies that a woman who was visiting went to her car and retrieved a bottle of lighter fluid while he was sitting in his yard. Without saying a word, she reportedly poured a large amount of lighter fluid on him, which caused him to run out of fear that she would light him on fire despite not seeing her in possession of a lighter. The woman reportedly drove off, and no arrest was made at the time of the incident. (The Augusta Chronicle)
3. A 22-year-old man was shot on Monday while driving on Columbia Road in nearby Martinez. The 22-year-old victim allegedly cut off another vehicle as he was changing lanes while traveling east on Columbia Road. According to the incident report, the vehicle then pulled up beside him, and after a brief exchange, the suspect reportedly fired a single shot toward the victim's vehicle, striking him in the left hand. The 22-year-old was transported to Doctor’s Hospital by Gold Cross for treatment. No arrests have been made at this time, and the case is still under investigation. (The Augusta Chronicle)

Today and tomorrow in Augusta:

Thursday, April 20

• Memories Matter: Alzheimer's Community Forum At Pierce Memorial United Methodist (4:30 PM)
• Augusta University Wind Ensemble At Grover C. Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre (7:30 PM)

Friday, April 21

• Senior Fridays At Robert Howard Community Center (10:00 AM)
• Augusta Sculpture Trail Ribbon Cutting At 8th Street Riverwalk Bulkhead (11:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• Earth Day is coming up on Saturday, Apr. 22! Earth Day Augusta, a free family-friendly event, will be held at Phinizy Swamp Nature Park from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. There will be live entertainment, local vendors, food, and more. (Augusta, Georgia Government via Facebook)
• The Augusta-Richmond County Public Library System is partnering with Tia’s Corner to provide a grief support group for children ages six through eight who may be dealing with the loss of a loved one, divorce, or moving to a new school or city. This eight-week support group meets every Saturday beginning Apr. 22 and will feature exercises, books, and games that help them work through the grief process and adjust to their new normal. To register for this class, call Shirley Norman at 706-284-2124. (Augusta, Georgia Government via Facebook)
• Despite a statewide trend of increasing housing starts and permits, the number of residential construction permits issued in the Augusta-Richmond metro decreased by 2.66 percent between 2021-2022. Visit the link for more insights on year-over-year changes in residential construction in Georgia and across the country. (Point2)

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Featured events:

• Memories Matter: Alzheimer's Community Forum (April 20)

Alrighty, you're all caught up for today! See you soon for your next update.

— Michelle Paul

About me: Michelle Paul is a Utah-based writer and photographer with a professional background in content management and registered nursing. When not working on projects ranging from photo editing to copywriting, they enjoy traveling, video games, and expanding their skills.