A Rincon man was arrested Wednesday after Effingham County deputies found dead and malnourished animals at an abandoned residence.
Harry Fields, 39, is facing several animal cruelty charges, said Effingham County Sheriff’s Office spokesman David Ehsanipoor.
Deputies responded to the Cypress Ridge Run residence after neighbors reported there may have been animals inside.
“Deputies arrived at the location where they detected a foul odor near the front door and observed an extremely malnourished dog in a bathroom through a window,” Ehsanipoor said.
Inside deputies found three dead cats, the emaciated dog and another cat in poor condition.
Fields was arrested at that location and charged with five counts of aggravated animal cruelty, five counts of abandonment of a domesticated animal and three counts of method of disposal.
Ehsanipoor said the animals’ owner showed no remorse.
“He was not living at the house, however, he admitted to being there on Monday and said the animals were in bad condition then,” Ehsanipoor said. “He left them there anyway.”
The dog and cat found alive were taken to a local veterinarian by deputies but the malnourished dog died overnight.
Pooler motorcyclist hurt in Wednesday wreck dies
A Pooler man who police say crashed into two vehicles while riding his motorcycle on Intestate 516 on Wednesday afternoon has died of his injuries.
Robert McGuinness, 27, of the 300 block of Blue Moon Crossing died at Memorial University Medical Center where he was taken after the 3:06 p.m. wreck just east of the Tremont Road interchange, said Julian Miller, Savannah-Chatham police spokesman.
Accident investigators found that the Suzuki motorcycle being driven by McGuinness, a red Pontiac G6 and a blue Dodge Challenger all were traveling east on I-516. McGuinness, traveling at a high rate of speed, attempted to pass between two cars, sideswiping the Pontiac then rear-ending the Dodge, Miller said.
The driver and passenger in the Dodge were also taken to the hospital for treatment, Miller said.
The police department’s Major Accident Investigation Team is continuing to investigate the wreck.
Three found guilty in Forsyth Park robberies
A Chatham County jury on Wednesday found three men guilty of two armed robberies that took place in and around Forsyth Park last May.
Devante Tyrell Bynes, 21, was found guilty of two counts of armed robbery and one count of harming a police dog; Devon Manuel Tarver, 23, was found guilty of two counts of armed robbery; and Josephewa Sonny Ramsey, 28, was found guilty of two counts of armed robbery and one count of obstruction, said Daniel Baxter, Chatham County District Attorney’s Office spokesman.
Assistant District Attorney Jerry Rothschild told the jury that on the evening of May 21, 2013, Savannah-Chatham police Detective William Bailey was patrolling the area of Forsyth Park as part of a planned operation to deter armed robberies in the area. About midnight, the detective witnessed three men surround another man in what looked like an armed robbery.
Upon seeing the detective, the three men ran away. Ramsey was apprehended immediately by Bailey, who was in pursuit.
With help from a K-9 unit, Tarver and Bynes were caught minutes later hiding on East Park Avenue.
During Bynes’ apprehension, the K-9 suffered injuries in the struggle, but later recovered.
That K-9 has been identified in previous Savannah Morning News stories as the police dog Flash.
Upon investigation, police found two of the men in possession of items belonging to two people who had been robbed at gunpoint in separate instances earlier that evening, Baxter said.
Sentencing will be at a later date by Superior Court Judge Michael Karpf.
Pot, cocaine, guns seized in bust
An investigation by local narcotics agents led to the arrests of five people Thursday afternoon and the seizure of a large amount of marijuana, cocaine and weapons.
Late Thursday afternoon, the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team executed a search warrant at 206 West St. on Savannah’s westside. Seized during this operation were 4.5 pounds of marijuana, an ounce of cocaine, two handguns, an SKS assault style rifle and $1,079 in cash, said CNT Sgt. Mark Lupus.
Arrested during Thursday’s operation was 23-year-old Calvin Gregory Russell, who was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and obstruction. Russell also had three warrants through the Savannah-Chatham police department including aggravated assault and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, Lupus said.
Also arrested were 24-year-old James Johnson, who was charged with possession of marijuana and cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and obstruction; 19-year-old Treishawn Robinson, 22-year-old Arkeem Anthony and 28-year old Isadore Johnson, all charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony. This search warrant is the result of a short-term investigation concentrating on drug sales activities in the West Savannah neighborhood, targeting known drug houses and individuals identified as marketers of illicit narcotics in the community, Lupus said.
Supporting CNT during this operation were SWAT team members and aviation assets from the Savannah-Chatham police department.
Three-day bridge rehab to cause delays on I-516
From 9 p.m. tonight until 5 a.m. Monday, a ramp on Interstate 16 will be temporarily closed with an associated detour, and two lanes will be closed on Interstate 516 for bridge rehabilitation on I-516 above Tremont Road.
The detour will be signed as followed:
• Motorists on eastbound on I-16 will be take Exit 160, turn left onto Dean Forest Road/Ga. 307, turn right on U.S. 80/Ga. 26, continue on U.S. 80/Ga. 26 to the intersection of Ga. 26 Connector/Burnsed Boulevard, turn left and continue to the ramp, then turn left onto the ramp to I-516 eastbound.
Chilly weather weekend dog fosters sought
The Humane Society for Greater Savannah is asking for a few local families to volunteer fosters for this weekend, when overnight lows could dip into the mid-30s.
Dogs will be fostered first come, first served from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. today with the dogs returning from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Go to www.humanesocietysav.org to see which dogs are available.
Roads to close along MLK Parade route
Downtown traffic will be rerouted for several hours Monday for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade.
The parade starts at 10 a.m., but police will start closing roads earlier, and traffic is expected to be affected until about 3 p.m., said Eunicia Baker, Savannah-Chatham police spokeswoman.
Road closures throughout the staging area will begin promptly at 6:30 a.m. The staging area runs from East Broad Street to Price Street and Liberty Street to Gwinnett Street.
The parade begins at East Broad and Liberty streets, then travels north on East Broad to Broughton Street, west on Broughton to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, and south on MLK to Anderson Street to disband.
Roads along the staging area and parade route will remain closed throughout the parade’s duration.
“No parking zone” notices will be posted along Broughton and MLK on Sunday morning between 8-11 a.m. Vehicles remaining in the no parking zone after 7 a.m. Monday will be towed at their owners’ expense, Baker said.
Delivery vehicles with Bay Street destinations should take Interstate 516 at DeRenne Avenue to northbound Truman Parkway at President Street to access Bay.
Compiled by DeAnn Komanecky and Dash Coleman
CHATHAM COUNTY BOOKED
To see pictures and details for individuals serving their initial incarceration in Chatham County, as reported by the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, go to ChathamCountyBooked.com.