08-05-2025
Oconee Blotter: Winder man charged with having machine gun
The Oconee County Sheriff's Office reported the following incidents:
SHOPLIFTING: On April 23, Deputy Kelda Simmons and Sgt. Lex Ogan were dispatched to Walmart for a shoplifting was in progress. A loss prevention officer had stopped the three suspects, Athens women ages 48, 26, and 45, and recovered the merchandise, mostly makeup. The trio was then sent to jail.
HIT AND RUN: On April 25, Sgt. Lex Ogan and deputy Kelda Simmons were dispatched to Georgia Highway 316 and Jimmy Daniel Road, where a 36-year-old Athens woman reported she was stopped at a red light when her Kia Telluride was hit in the rear by a Kia Sportage. She walked to the offender's car and the driver didn't acknowledge her. She told the woman in the Sportage that 'you hit my car.' The woman responded, 'So.' The offender then made a U-turn and pulled into the roadway almost colliding with a trailer-trailer rig. Then she left the scene. The Telluride driver took a photo showing the license plate of the offender, which was traced to Enterprise Rental on Atlanta Highway. Deputies contacted the business and learned the vehicle was rented about 10 minutes before the crash. FLOCK cameras showed the vehicle headed to Monroe, so the police department there was contacted. A Monroe officer stopped the car. When deputies arrived, the 31-year-old Athens woman asked for a lawyer. However, she told the officers the other driver told her it was 'Nothing major, you good.' So, she drove off. She was taken to jail.
DUI CHARGED: On April 26, Sgt. Lex Ogan and Deputy Kelda Simmons were traveling about 5:30 p.m. on Mars Hill Road near the Oconee Connector when they saw a Mercedes Benz partially on the median and blocking traffic. Another motorist had stopped and was talking to the 66-year-old Watkinsville woman. The woman, who smelled of alcohol, exited her car, but had difficulty walking. She explained she was on the way home and was trying to turn around in the road when she became stuck in the median. She denied drinking, but later admitted she had three drinks of vodka. After testing she was taken to a hospital for a blood test, then transported to jail on a DUI charge.
Scam alert: Telephone call from a person claiming to be a cop could prove expensive for Athens man
SPEEDING, GUN AND MARIJUANA: On April 26, Sgt. Lex Ogan was working a traffic stop along Highway 316 when a 2006 Chrysler 300 approached at a high speed, then accelerated as it passed the deputy. Ogan estimated the car's speed at 80 to 90 mph. He began a pursuit that was joined by Lt. Travis Wooster. The vehicles all entered the Athens Perimeter. The Chrysler disappeared from sight, but when Ogan turned off the loop at South Milledge Avenue, he spotted it stopped at a red light. He made a traffic stop. The driver, a 22-year-old Winder man, had a Draco AK 7.62 rifle between his legs loaded with a 60-round magazine. The man explained he was driving to a medical emergency at the home of his cousin, who was having a seizure. The man offered that he was last cited for speeding at 91 mph in a 55 zone. He said he reached a speed of 110 mph on the loop, but because his car maxed out at 126 mph he didn't try to push it. The man was wanted on a warrant out of Barrow County so he was placed in custody. The deputies smelled marijuana in the car, but couldn't see any. However, a search of the dashboard revealed bags of marijuana concealed inside. After his arrest, his passenger, a 19-year-old Winder woman, revealed they were headed to a block party in Athens. The rifle had a modified trigger, but the suspect denied it was an automatic weapon. He was charged with DUI, having an open container of alcohol, reckless driving, and possession of a machine gun and marijuana.
COP IMPERSONATOR: On April 28, Deputy R. Bush spoke with a 47-year-old Watkinsville woman, who reported she received a call from a man who said he was a captain with the Oconee County Sheriff's Office. He informed her he had a warrant for her arrest and he sent her a bar code to use to pay him $500. However, she called the sheriff's office to speak with the captain, but it was after hours and the captain was not there. While the deputy was speaking with the woman, the man called again still trying to impersonate the captain.
SHOPLIFTING: On April 28, Sgt. Lex Ogan and Deputy Kelda Simmons were dispatched to Dick's Sporting Goods for a shoplifting in progress. A woman had already left the store in a green car, but her male companion was still in the store. He was searched and did not have any merchandise, but he was barred from the store. The 59-year-old Athens woman was later located and deputies recovered Nike brand clothing and shoes in her possession. She was charged with shoplifting. It was learned that her driver's license had been suspended since 1988.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Oconee Blotter: Winder man charged with having machine gun
