Man carjacked while repossessing vehicle
Police have arrested a North Augusta man and are looking for others who are accused of carjacking a 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe Sept. 29.
The 32-year-old victim told police he and his passenger were repossessing the vehicle and had stopped at the Circle K on Atomic Road to put air in the tires about 10:20 p.m., according to an incident report. Two men walked up and asked him about the paint job. While they were talking, several black males jumped out of a Dodge Durango and a Chevrolet Trailblazer brandishing guns and demanding that the passenger get out of the vehicle.
Officers arrested 25-year-old Maurice Sentell Bradham, of Philpot Lane. The other men fled on foot when officers arrived on the scene.
Anyone with information should call (803) 279-2121.
Augusta man arrested in theft at gas station
An Augusta man is accused of stealing money from a North Augusta gas station and leading officers on a chase Sunday, police say.
Herman Thompkins Jr., 52, of the 1800 block of Savoy Street, was arrested in Augusta and is being held for the North Augusta Department of Public Safety, according to Richmond County jail records.
According to a public safety report, the manager of Greg's Gas Plus at 403 Georgia Ave. said a man entered about 11 a.m., walked to the office and took an envelope containing $195.
After the man got into a silver 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix, a police officer arrived and ordered him to stop. The man backed into the officer's vehicle and drove toward the Georgia line. Police chased him to an apartment complex at 12th and Mauge streets, where he abandoned his vehicle.
Thompkins was arrested at about 11:10 a.m. He will be charged by North Augusta authorities with simple larceny and failure to stop for blue lights and siren. Richmond County police charged him with obstruction of a law enforcement officer.
Family torn apart by shooting death
A North Augusta man has been charged in the fatal shooting of his brother Friday.
North Augusta Department of Public Safety charged Antonio Middleton, 20, of the 400 block of Bradleyville Road, with involuntary manslaughter after his brother Lee Andrew Middleton Jr., 21, was shot and killed at their apartment complex, Lt. Tim Pearson said in a news release this afternoon.
He is being held at the department of public safety where he will be booked for the charge, but Pearson did not release details on a motive. He did say the shooting appeared to be unintentional and without malice.
Both men lived in building B of Ridgeview Manor Apartments, Pearson said. The victim was visiting a friend in building D around 10 a.m., when he was shot once in the upper chest, said Aiken County Coroner Tim Carlton. His body was found at the first floor landing of the building. Middleton was pronounced dead at the scene, Carlton said.
Aiken County Sheriff's Office assisted the department of public safety with the arrest. The .38 caliber used in the shooting has been obtained as evidence, Pearson said.
This is the first murder in 2009 for North Augusta, according to officials.
Home invasion under investigation
North Augusta police continue to investigate a reported home invasion.
Three men were home at 212 Belgium Drive about 9:30 p.m. Sunday when the doorbell rang and at least two men used handguns to gain entry into the apartment, according to an incident report.
Two of the men in the home were hit in the head with the handguns and suffered minor injuries, the report stated.
The suspects were wearing blue jeans, hoodies and bandannas over their faces, the witnesses said. The residents said there were at least two men and possibly three or four. No arrests have been made.
The residents reported a flat screen television, X-Box 360, several games and DVDs, as well as two cell phones and a wallet were taken.
