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Augusta, GA

Sheriff hiring social workers to help with homeless efforts

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Sheriff hiring social workers to help with homeless efforts


AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – With a Richmond County Sheriff’s Office’s homeless initiative for Washington Road continuing, there was discussion at a meeting Thursday.

A couple of weeks ago, the agency got permission from dozens of businesses to remove homeless people from private property near Washington Road and Interstate 20.

Homeless people aren’t new to the area, but deputies have become concerned about the danger of crime.

Augusta’s homeless task force met Thursday afternoon and got an update from Chief Deputy Patrick Clayton.

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He said his agency has received about $275,000 in grant money to hire social workers for a “co-responder” program.

“Law enforcement we’re not equipped to deal with these kind of things, but we’ll get tese social workers that will work with us. We’ll start putting these people under case management and tracking them and getting them the resources and getting them- because a lot of these are from other areas..getting them back home to where they came from,” he said.

The social workers will provide case management for the homeless – something that’s important because poverty is just one of the problems afflicting many homeless people. They may also be dealing with psychological, emotional or health issues.

“I’m excited to know that our community has taken the initiative to step up and apply for funding because co-responder is a significant need in this community. I’m concerned about how it’s going to be implemented,” said attendee Celina Keys.

Plus there are changing views on how to offer services to the homeless – for example, whether housing assistance ought to come with strings attached.

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Asked further about progress with the program, Clayton said: “It’s still new.”

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Questions remain about the effects of the homeless removal program.

Clayton says the initiative will take effort from the entire community.

“I’m hoping everybody here will help us because we’re all gonna have to work together to get this done,” he said.

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Among the concerns is where the homeless people are going and the feasibility of the removal efforts.

Some people think it’ll take more than the sheriff’s office and local non-profits to get it all done.

“I’m hoping for some clarity, I’m hoping that’s there’s more learning that happens and that there’s really some more involvement from community mental health providers,” said Keys.

For years, Boy Scout Road off Washington Road – site of various motels and apartment complexes – has become a congregating area for homeless people.

They’ve gotten more visible lately.

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Officials have one explanation:

During the pandemic, the government was paying to put up many homeless people in motels – including some in the Boy Scout Road area. But the Housing and Urban Development program eventually exhausted its funds, and now those same people are back out on the streets.

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

Earlier this week, the Richmond County Marshal’s Office shared its data on how homeless people are moving through the community as they’re pushed from one area to another.

Much of the agency’s evidence of homeless encampments comes from what’s left behind as officers clean up places like Fenwick Street, Boy Scout Road and Elkdom Court.

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After the Richmond County Marshal’s Office cleaned up Elkdom Court a few weeks ago, around 60,000 pounds of belongings were found in that area.

As the homelessness issue continues to be figured out, Keys hopes there will be a new level of understanding.

“There is a disconnect from the individuals that are experiencing homelessness, experiencing crises, experiencing social problems, and the leaders who are responsible for determining where money goes to support those individuals and what policies are put into place to help those individuals,” she said.

The Sheriff’s Office says the grant money will roll out over the next 2 to 3 years.

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Augusta, GA

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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.
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.

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Sean McKenzie

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.

Butler High School, Augusta, Ga.

Around 6:30 p.m., police brought out a child car seat and a diaper bag. The significance of those items wasn’t clear.

The incident comes amid an outbreak of violent crime that’s claimed about 200 lives in nearly three years across the CSRA.

The crime outbreak has affected communities large and small, but as the biggest city in the region, Augusta has been hit especially hard.

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Authorities have blamed much of the problem on gangs.

We are working to learn more information about the incident.



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Augusta, GA

Police respond to shooting at Grovetown apartment complex

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Police respond to shooting at Grovetown apartment complex


GROVETOWN, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Law enforcement officials are on the scene of a shooting incident at an apartment complex, according to the Grovetown Police Department.

No one was killed, and the victim was a male, according to authorities.

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

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

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Kitchens says it appears the victim was upstairs on the balcony of the apartment and went inside after he was shot.

Several other people were inside the apartment including an infant, according to Kitchens.

He tells us two unknown males entered the apartment, went upstairs and began shooting.

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

Through the use of local cameras and doorbell cameras, officials say they were able to see that the suspects left in a vehicle.

They have a loose vehicle description and are trying to run down leads, according to Kitchens.

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Officials say the victim is in a local hospital in surgery and does not appear to have life-threatening injuries.

Kitchens wants the community to know that there is no danger to the community and 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.

Around 6:30 p.m., police brought out a child car seat and a diaper bag. The significance of those items wasn’t clear.

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Butler High School, Augusta, Ga.

The incident comes amid an outbreak of violent crime that’s claimed about 200 lives in nearly three years across the CSRA.

The crime outbreak has affected communities large and small, but as the biggest city in the region, Augusta has been hit especially hard.

Authorities have blamed much of the problem on gangs.

We are working to learn more information about the incident.



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