Augusta, GA

Groups prepare as business owners sign up for new homeless program

Published

2 years ago

July 12, 2023

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – It’s a complex problem- keeping businesses around the Washington Road and I-20 corridor happy and finding somewhere for people experiencing homelessness to go.

During a town hall meeting on Tuesday night, Sheriff Roundtree came together with people in the area to try and come up with a solution.

We talked to some groups who work with people experiencing homelessness.

A new program by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office would permit deputies to remove homeless individuals and encampments from private property.

So far, 17 property owners have given the sheriff’s office permission to act on behalf of the owner and remove them.

As to where they’ll go next- that’s still being decided, but groups are waiting with open arms.

“It’s not just the people that you see on the streets or in the shelters,” said Angela Bakos, Founder of Resource Network.

Bakos spends her time working with deputies on a homelessness task force.

“We do go out to encampments; we offer resources to them. Even if it’s a private property issue, where the owner has asked for them to be removed, we first go out there and we give them a heads up that you know they are going to be removed, we give them all of the resources,” said Bakos.

They start from the ground up.

“Do you have a driver’s license or state ID? Do you have a birth certificate? If not, let me show you where you can go to get that,” she said.

The sheriff’s office will also use the aid of the superior court.

Sheriff Roundtree said: “The superior court has three courts of accountability, which is a mental health court, the drug addiction court, and the veteran’s court. They already doing those already working in Richmond County, for people created a criminal case in the superior court. So, the system is already in place.”

Washington Road and I-20 may be one of Augusta’s best-known intersections. Here’ a view from above.

The Salvation Army heard what the sheriff had to say. Now they’re asking what’s next.

Derek Dugan, director of development at the Salvation Army of Augusta, said: “Here is no reason for a veteran to be homeless in this town. Zero, they’ve got all the resources. The Salvation Army’s work to define where you send people for mental health and addiction that’s not defined in this community, at least not in a large capacity.”

They can’t help everybody, but they helped 123 people this fiscal year. With this new initiative, that number could grow exponentially.

“We are on track to double the number of people served, the number of nights sheltered, and the number of meals given. What that means is we have extended over our budget already,” said Dugan.

Homelessness isn’t just a box you check.

“Every person has a different scenario, a different set of issues that have to be overcome, that probably placed them into homelessness that have to be addressed to get them out of homelessness,” said Dugan.

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Augusta, GA

2 young males dead after boat overturns in Screven County

Published

5 hours ago

January 15, 2025

Press Room

2 young males dead after boat overturns in Screven County

SYLVANIA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Two young males are dead after their boat overturned while fishing, according to the Screven County Sheriff’s Office.

According to a press release, around 12:45 p.m. on Wednesday, emergency services received a call about a boat overturning in a pond off Poor Robin Road.

Upon arrival, deputies spoke with a young adult male who was located at the scene. The male reported he had been in a boat with two other young males fishing when their boat overturned.

The young male was treated for his injuries and released, according to officials.

Additional agencies arrived on the scene including the Screven County Marine Rescue Squadron and several local scuba divers.

“After an extensive 5-hour search, in 46-degree water, the bodies of the remaining two young males were located in the pond,” said Sheriff Norman Royal.

The investigation into the circumstances that led up to these deaths is still ongoing, but no foul play is suspected at this time, according to officials.

Screven County EMS, Screven County Fire, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Effingham County Fire and Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office, also assisted in the response.

Sheriff Royal sends his thoughts and prayers to the families of these two young men and thanks all agencies that assisted and made their recovery possible.

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Augusta, GA

WATCH: Gun comes out during fight at Butler High, video shows

Published

13 hours ago

January 15, 2025

Press Room

WATCH: Gun comes out during fight at Butler High, video shows

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A weapon was seized by school administrators after the apparent gun fell to the floor during a fight between students Tuesday at Butler High School.

Parents were told of the incident in a letter.

“Two students engaged in a fight in a classroom today during a class,” the letter stated. “During the altercation, students saw a weapon drop to the floor.”

The Richmond County School System didn’t address what kind of weapon it was, but a video on Facebook showed what appeared to be a gun.

Administrators and Richmond County School System police responded immediately and secured the school for about 45 minutes while police investigated, parents were told.

The student was taken into custody and the incident was addressed following the Code of Student Conduct and Discipline.

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Augusta, GA

Police arrest suspect in Grovetown apartment complex shooting

Published

21 hours ago

January 15, 2025

Press Room

Police arrest suspect in Grovetown apartment complex shooting

GROVETOWN, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A suspect has been arrested in connection to an apartment complex shooting in Grovetown, officials announced Wednesday morning.

Isaiah Bautista, 20, of Augusta, was located near Windsor Spring Road and Meadowbrook Drive, still riding in the suspect vehicle that was observed fleeing the scene of the earlier shooting, Grovetown Police Department says.

Bautista had a firearm at the time of his arrest and had multiple outstanding felony warrants through both Richmond County and Reidsville, Ga., police say.

Bautista was transported to the Charles B. Webster Detention Center on the outstanding warrants. Additional warrants will be secured by Grovetown Investigators for his charges regarding tonight’s shooting.

This investigation continues as investigators are working to identify the second suspect.

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office assisted in apprehending Bautista.

The Grovetown Police Department says they received a 911 call Tuesday at 5:02 p.m. about a shooting at the 1000 block of Joiner Circle in Joiner Crossing Apartments in Grovetown.

Police Chief Jamey Kitchens told us he was on the scene around 5:34 p.m.

When officers arrived they discovered a male victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the upper chest.

Officials say the victim was conscious when they arrived and is in a local hospital in surgery. He does not appear to have life-threatening injuries.

He tells us two unknown males entered the apartment, and one of the suspects fired several rounds hitting the victim once.

Officials say they responded Tuesday afternoon to Joiner Crossing Apartments in Grovetown.(WRDW)

Officials used local cameras and doorbell cameras to capture the suspects fleeing on foot to a nearby vehicle and exiting the complex.

One of the suspects was wearing a mask and both were wearing dark-colored hoodies.

Multiple people were in the home at the time, including an infant who was within a few feet of the victim when he was shot. No other parties were injured.

They have a loose vehicle description and several leads are being pursued, according to Kitchens.

The victim was not a resident of the home where the incident occurred.

Kitchens wants the community to know that there is no danger to the community and that this appears to be a targeted attack.

A witness said she saw 17 police cars on the scene around 6 p.m. and that it appeared officers were searching up and down some nearby railroad tracks.

Police were clustered around one apartment in particular. The door was open and crime scene tape hung outside the entry.