Richmond Co. Deputy apprehends burglary suspect in traffic stop
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – On May 12th, around 4:21 p.m., Deputy Noah Johnson with the Richmond County Sheriff's Office Crime Suppression Team conducted a traffic stop on a green 1998 Buick LeSabre with a paper tag at the intersection of Apple Valley Drive and Mike Padgett Highway.
The driver, identified as 46-year-old Antonio Rodiquez Tyler, was found to have an outstanding warrant for Burglary in the Second Degree related to a November 2024 incident at Burger King located at 1601 Gordon Highway. He also had a Felony Failure to Appear warrant and was immediately taken into custody.
Further investigation by the Criminal Investigations Division (CID), along with observations made during the traffic stop, led to two additional charges of Burglary in the Second Degree. These charges stem from break-ins that occurred on May 11, 2025, at the Chevron gas station at 902 Walton Way and the Dollar General store at 3036 Peach Orchard Road.
'Traffic stops do more than just slow down speeders—they often lead to the apprehension of individuals wanted for serious crimes,' stated Sheriff Eugene Brantley. 'We are proud of the proactive work our deputies continue to do. This case is a great example of how situational awareness, training, and sharp investigative instincts come together to remove criminals from our streets. We remain committed to ensuring that all Augustans and visitors feel safe and are safe throughout our community.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Aiken fire survivor once lost his legs, now his home
AIKEN, S.C. (WJBF) — A sanitation worker who lost his legs in an accident in Aiken County two years ago now faces a new battle after a housefire destroyed his home. 'I start hearing pops. I kid you not, sound like gunshots pop bang pop,' Matthew Lex recalled. The fire at Matthew's home on Friday, June 6 spread fast. Windows shattered. What sounded like explosions followed. Inside—Matthew, an amputee, fighting to get out. 'I threw my legs off,' he said. I took because my leg was half off. I threw this leg up and I bolted for the back door. The time I got out there, the battery exploded. It sounded like a train locomotive exploded.' 'He was here going down the hill,' neighbor Charlie Stokes Jr. said. 'And we just basically told him he didn't need to go any further, that we would get him, you know, where he needs to be as far as to safety and everything.' Smoke, flames, and water wrecked everything. Matthew's safe space — gone. His wheelchairs and medical gear — destroyed. 'You can see the damage, and this is a picture of our family in Myrtle Beach when my husband and I melted,' his mother Cheryl Welsh showed Shawn. 'And you can see it's melted. So, a lot of memories, a lot of pain in this room because we came here and we watched a lot of movies and spent quality time together. So, this is a very surreal situation. It's painful.' Matthew says the 911 dispatcher was confused—and it took nearly 40 minutes to get help. His family wants to know why the closest fire station did not respond. 'I always have had a concern because even when Matthew was injured in his accident, I'm concerned about Aiken and their timeliness to some of these,' Cheryl added. They're staying with relatives for now but say Matthew's wheelchair makes it tough. They need a more accessible home — and answers. 'It doesn't matter about a district at that time. It matters about life and the sanctity of life and whatever it takes to save lives,' she said. 'We've been through a lot — pinned between a Dodge Caravan, the garbage truck, escaping a burning house. You gotta be brave,' Matthew added. A Go-fund-me has been set up to help the family. You can donate, here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Missing toddler found safe thanks to Cleburne County K-9 Opie
HEFLIN — A 3-year-old boy reported missing last week in the Hopewell community was found safe, thanks to a swift response by Cleburne County deputies and the tracking skills of K-9 Opie and his handler, Deputy Bradley Mayfield. According to the Cleburne County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to a report of a missing child on June 3. As they were en route to the scene, K-9 handler Deputy Mayfield and Opie were also dispatched to assist in the search. Mayfield, 28, a U.S. Coast Guard veteran who later entered law enforcement, has worked closely with Opie, a 14-month-old bloodhound, since July 4, 2024, when the dog was just 10 weeks old. Together, the two form the Sheriff's Office's only tracking K-9 team. While the department also uses a drug detection dog named Max, Opie specializes in narcotics detection, tracking, and article searches — the recovery of items like weapons or evidence discarded by suspects. When Mayfield arrived at the residence, the scene had already been secured by other deputies to minimize foot traffic and preserve scent trails. Opie was given a pair of the child's shorts by the mother to begin tracking. Mayfield said he first took time to get Opie 'hyped up,' a regular part of their routine, before presenting the scent article and issuing the tracking command. 'He went towards the back. Located a football in the backyard, and I'm guessing that football has been used with the kid before, because he sat on it for a second,' he said. After circling the property, the K-9 showed no signs of the child having left the area. Instead, the dog indicated the scent remained inside the residence. Based on Opie's behavior, deputies and family members conducted another search inside the home. This time, they found the boy safe under a pile of blankets in his bed. Only his fingertips were visible, and one deputy spotted them during the search. Once the child was reunited with his mother Mayfield asked if it would be ok if he could bring Opie out and present the clothing again to see if he could find him standing there. 'I deployed Opie again from my vehicle and he walked right past everybody else, went straight to the mama with the child,' Mayfield said, 'I asked the mom if he could get down and play with Opie, and she let him play with him and after that, we loaded up and went back home.' Sheriff Jon Daniel praised the teamwork and rapid response. 'I am thankful for the outcome of this situation and grateful for the response exhibited by the deputies, on-duty and off-duty, that came to assist,' Daniel said. 'I also want to thank Heflin PD for their quick response alongside us for the welfare of the child. I am also thankful for the work done by K-9 Opie and the asset he is to the Sheriff's Office and all of the citizens we serve.' Mayfield said the child's mother was apologetic for calling law enforcement, but emphasized that she did everything right and every second counts. Opie was rewarded with his favorite treat — a small hand towel. 'He loves hand towels. He just holds it in his mouth,' Mayfield said. 'If I hold it, he'll pull on it. He'll just walk around with it — that's what he does. He's not as high-energy as German shepherds; he's more calm. That's how bloodhounds are.' Mayfield, who became interested in K-9 work during his military service, said watching other handlers work with bomb detection and narcotics dogs inspired him. 'When I got into law enforcement and started doing narcotics work, I saw how beneficial a dog could be for our department and the county,' he said. In addition to his work within Cleburne County, Mayfield frequently responds to requests from law enforcement agencies across Alabama and Georgia, particularly for tracking suspects or conducting narcotics searches. 'I've had calls from state troopers when someone runs on foot. A lot of agencies have more K-9s than we do, so they have options, but I still get called out a lot,' he said. 'I couldn't even tell you how many times I've deployed him on tracks in Cleburne County.' One frequent location is Cheaha State Park, where Mayfield is often called to assist when individuals are lost on the trails or fleeing law enforcement. 'I go up there a good bit. If they need us, we're there,' he said. 'No matter the time of day, I'll come out.' Mayfield said his work with Opie requires not just experience but keen observation. 'You look for the signs — people who are overly nervous, stories that don't line up, or behavior that's just off,' he said. 'Once Opie alerts, that gives us probable cause to conduct a search.' 'This was a good ending,' he said about the search for the boy, adding that Opie received his reward, his chew rag.
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Yahoo
Louisiana father who left 1-year-old daughter in hot car for over 9 hours faces murder charge: police
A Louisiana father was charged with second-degree murder after allegedly leaving his 21-month-old daughter inside a hot car for more than nine hours. Joseph Boatman, 32, of Hammond, was arrested Sunday after the child died outside a home in Madisonville, according to the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office. "Detectives with the STPSO Major Crimes Unit have learned that Boatman had strapped the toddler in her car seat inside the vehicle after picking her up from a family member's residence shortly after 2:30 a.m. Sunday," police said. "After strapping the toddler in her car seat, Boatman went back inside the residence and never returned to the vehicle. It was also learned that prior to Boatman arriving to pick up his daughter, he had consumed multiple alcoholic beverages," the sheriff's office added. Florida Woman Given Maximum Sentence In Death Of Second Grandchild Police say they responded to the home shortly before noon Sunday, "after a family member located the girl unresponsive inside the vehicle." Read On The Fox News App Temperatures in the area around that time were about 90 degrees. "This is a devastating loss that no family ever wants to face," St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Randy Smith said in a statement. "When a child is left in a vehicle, especially on a day when the heat index climbs over 100 degrees, the outcome can turn deadly in a matter of minutes. This case involved compromised judgment, and the result was heartbreaking." Child Hot Car Death Pushes Parents Who Lost Daughter To Sound Alarm About 'Preventable Tragedy' The website No Heat Stroke, which tracks the deaths of children inside hot cars in the U.S., said it was the fifth instance this year, following cases in New Mexico, California, Maryland and New Jersey. "A child's body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adult's. When a child is left in a vehicle, that child's temperature can rise quickly – and the situation can quickly become dangerous," the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says on its website. "In 2024, 39 children died of heatstroke in vehicles — up 35% from 2023." The NHTSA also says, "Never leave a child in a vehicle unattended for any length of time," and, "Rolling windows down or parking in the shade does little to change the interior temperature of the vehicle."Original article source: Louisiana father who left 1-year-old daughter in hot car for over 9 hours faces murder charge: police
