Claude Shirley, the owner of City Pawn Shop on Shotwell Street, was punched by an angry customer late Tuesday afternoon, according to Bainbridge Public Safety.

BPS is still looking for the assailant, who they believe is a traveling contractor driving a pickup truck registered in another state.

According to Major Robert Humphrey, BPS’s chief investigator, the customer had argued with Shirley over the price of an item in the store.

Shirley followed the customer outside into the store’s parking lot, Humphrey stated. A few seconds later, the customer suddenly turned around and punched Shirley in the face, causing him to fall onto the asphalt.

The customer then got into his truck and left the area in a hurry, Humphrey stated. Investigators looked at surveillance video from the business and were able to get a glimpse of the customer’s truck.

The truck was a black Ford F-150 or F-250 that had equipment in its bed. There were signs on the doors that said “Affordable Asphalt.” The truck has an Iowa license plate and may also have been spotted at a local motel in recent weeks.

Anyone with more information about the identity of the customer or where he went is asked to call BPS Investigator Ryan Deen at (229) 726-1536.

 

Three teens charged with burglary

Three teenage boys were arrested by Bainbridge Public Safety in connection with a residential burglary reported Thursday morning.

Just after 11 a.m., BPS received a call from a homeowner on Wild Hack Road, which is located in a neighborhood off U.S. Highway 84 East near Roselawn Cemetery.

The homeowner had returned home, and after hearing someone rummaging around in his home, called 911, BPS Major Robert Humphrey said.

The homeowner saw two teens in hooded sweatshirts run into some nearby woods.

BPS officers found the first suspect, a 15-year-old boy who lives on Sims Street, riding a bike about two-tenths of a mile away from the home. The second suspect, identified as Anthony Dewayne Cosby, 17, of 1509 E. Water St., was found walking on Ashton Way — located about a half-mile’s walk through the woods from Wild Hack Road.

A third teen involved in the burglary, 17-year-old George Frisco Stanford, initially got away, but investigators found a backpack discarded in the woods, Humphrey said. The victim’s laptop, which was reported stolen, was later found at 630 Randolph St., Stanford’s residence. Randolph Street is also in the vicinity of Wild Hack Road, Humphrey said.

All three teens were arrested and charged with burglary.