Three men ended up in custody after running into Savannah–Chatham Metropolitan Police Department’s annual “Jingle Bell Patrol” on Black Friday.
Christopher Phillips, 24, of the 7100 block of US 17, and Bryan George, 22, of the 100 block of Hermitage, both in Richmond Hill, and Robert Baker, 23, of the 200 block of Mt. Olive Road, Fleming, Ga., were taken into custody after suspects were seen entering automobiles and trying to enter others in Oglethorpe Mall.
Phillips was charged with two counts of entering autos and six counts of criminal attempt of entering autos. George was charged with being a party to a crime entering autos. Baker was charged with possession of prescription drugs not in the original container.
They were arrested after mall security alerted an off–duty officer who called in Southside Precinct officers, SCMPD Traffic units, and Neighborhood Task Force undercover units about 2 p.m. to surround the suspects.
The off–duty officer was working at the mall and some of the other officers were part of this year’s “Jingle Bell Patrol,” the department’s annual extra–duty effort to cut down on crime during the holiday season.
Officers in each of the SCMPD five precincts work overtime as the “Jingle Bell Patrol” in high traffic areas to protect shoppers and businesses. Each of the precincts employ different tactics in the various areas they protect, as determined by the officers to address their specific situations.
In this case, mall security observed two of the three suspects in a red pickup truck and police saw one of the suspects enter a car and pull on door handles of other cars. The other suspect waited in the red truck for the suspect committing the entering auto. The third suspect was apprehended while the other two were being taken into custody.
• Two men are now in custody following separate drug investigations conducted by the Chatham–Savannah Counter Narcotics Team (CNT).
CNT, in a working partnership with the United States Postal Service, began investigating a residence located in the 400 block of East Liberty Street. After being alerted that a U.S. Postal Package headed to the address contained marijuana, a search warrant for the package was obtained.
The package was delivered to its unsuspecting recipient by a law enforcement officer working in an undercover capacity, at which time CNT executed a search warrant at the residence. A search resulted in the discovery of additional marijuana, and items commonly associated with its sale, including a detailed ledger.
In all, approximately three pounds of marijuana was seized.
CNT arrested 38–year–old Jonathan Staggs of Savannah. Staggs was charged with Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute and Possession of Tools during the Commission of a Crime.
• In a separate investigation CNT, with the assistance of the Garden City Police Department and Georgia Department of Pardons and Parole, arrested 27–year–old Kerry “Black” Milledge of the 200 block of Olmstead Place. Throughout the month of November, CNT was purchasing crack cocaine from Milledge in Westgate Apartments.
Officers moved in to arrest Milledge, who fled on foot. Milledge was chased into an apartment where he was taken into custody without any further incident.
