An undercover prostitution sting in the Jefferson Street area Tuesday led to the arrest of eight people, including one man who tried to run from Savannah-Chatham police, bringing additional charges.
Shawn Lernard Williams, 42, solicited sex from an undercover officer but sped away in his pickup truck when convening officers identified themselves, said police spokesman Julian Miller. He eventually was arrested after a foot chase and charged with pandering, driving with a suspended license, obstruction by fleeing, fleeing to elude, possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and reckless driving.
Arrested for prostitution were Shawn Demetrius Blige, 31, Ruth Ann Robinson, 48, Michael Wayne Gibbs Jr., 29, and James Baggs III, 48. Charged with pandering were Caezare Nico Johnson, 21, Alex Terrell Love, 42, and Robert Terrell Williams, 23.
The operation was conducted by Crime Suppression Units from the Central Precinct in reaction to complaints from residents about prostitutes working in the area around 41st and 42nd streets and Jefferson and Bull streets, Miller said. Several of those charged with prostitution are males who were dressed as females.
The investigation into prostitution in the area by Central Precinct CSU officers will continue, Miller said.
Man shot on eastside
A man was hospitalized Tuesday afternoon after he was shot on Savannah’s eastside.
Savannah-Chatham police responded to the about 3:30 p.m. shooting in the 1100 block of East 55th Street.
The victim was found a couple blocks away on Guatemala Street where he told investigators he was shot during a robbery attempt, said Julian Miller police spokesman.
The extent of the victim’s injuries were unknown Tuesday.
Miller said police were continuing to investigate the incident Tuesday evening.
Police K-9 captures theft suspect
A Savannah-Chatham police K-9 ran down a man suspected of breaking into a car and stealing a purse Tuesday afternoon.
The K-9 chased down and bit 20-year-old Mark Deon Mack near the Truman Parkway after the suspect, attempting to flee a pursuing patrol car, struck a guardrail and then a police cruiser in a white Dodge that matched the description witnesses told police they’d seen leaving a day care center in the 8800 block of White Bluff Road where a car was broken into and a purse was stolen from it, said Julian Miller, police spokesman.
The stolen purse was located at a convenience store in the 3200 block of Skidaway Road where someone had attempted to use a bank card to buy gas, Miller said.
Mack, who was transported to Memorial University Medical Center and treated for the dog bite, was charged with entering auto and party to the crime of financial transaction card fraud.
Miller said detectives were continuing their investigation into the incident.
Three units damaged in southside apartment fire
A fire Tuesday afternoon damaged three apartments at the Hunter Bluff Apartments complex on Savannah’s southside.
Savannah Fire & Emergency Services responded to the fire about 4 p.m. at the complex in the 200 block of West Montgomery Crossroad.
Fire officials believe the fire was electrical. No injuries were reported in the incident.
The American Red Cross Disaster Action Team provided the tenants of the three units damaged with hotel accommodations.
Public safety roundtable postponed
The planned Public Safety Roundtable originally scheduled for Monday has been postponed until June.
City of Savannah spokesman Bret Bell cited scheduling conflicts for pushing the event back to a date not yet determined.
The city is asking the public to continue to send their thoughts and public safety ideas to Savannah and Chatham County officials through an online form at www.savannahga.gov/publicsafetycomment.
Comments will be compiled and presented during the Public Safety Roundtable when it does meet, Bell said. The roundtable will be comprised of top elected and appointed officials from major entities involved with public safety including law enforcement, the courts, probation and parole, education, city and county governments, various nonprofits and the faith-based community.
The goal of the roundtable is to identify key issues that impact safety in the local community and jump-start a process to create an action plan to make the area safer, Bell said.
Guardrail repairs to affect traffic on I-16/I-516
Emergency guardrail repairs will affect traffic on Interstates 16 and 516 this week.
Work is scheduled to last from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. today through Friday at the eastbound on-ramp to I-16 from Chatham Parkway and at mile marker 4.5 on I-516, beneath I-16.
The on-ramp to I-16 from Chatham Parkway will be narrowed, but not closed. At I-516, one lane will be closed.
Motorists should expect minor delays in both areas. The Georgia Department of Transportation asks drivers to reduce speeds while traveling through the work zones.
Compiled by Dash Coleman
and Corey Dickstein