Firefighter balks burglary attempt at downtown station

A man and a juvenile are behind bars after a firefighter foiled the apparent burglary of a fire station, according to reports from the Columbus Police Department

Zerrick Taylor of Columbus and an unidentified juvenile accomplice were arrested Tuesday afternoon by the CPD. Firefighter Mark Ward of Fire Station 1 in downtown Columbus flagged down CPD officer David Hunt and told him he saw two black males coming out of the fire station as he was pulling into the building.

Ward stated he saw two city-owned laptops on the floor. Ward confronted the two and they took off running. Hunt tracked down the pair and transported them back to the fire station where Ward positively identified them as the two he had encountered. The juvenile was transferred to the Juvenile Detention Center and charged with felony attempted grand larceny. Taylor was transferred to the Lowndes County Adult Detention Center. Nothing was found missing from the fire station. The case remains under investigation. Taylor’s bond has been set at $1,500.

The following other people were arrested on felony charges, according to reports released from the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office:

• Thomas Earl Austin, Jr., 36, of 156 Pandora Drive in Columbus, was arrested by the CPD last Thursday. He is charged with one of count felony possession of a weapon by a felon

• n Warren Dickerson, 53, of 1514 Martin Luther King Drive in Columbus, was arrested by the LCSO Wednesday. He was charged with one count of misdemeanor possession of marijuana and one count of felony possession of cocaine.

• Rufus Pope, 46, of 2213 Washington Ave. in Columbus, was arrested last Tuesday by the LCSO. He is charged with felony DUI, third offense.

• Joseph Wilson Koger, Jr., 29, of 40018 Hamilton Road in Hamilton, was arrested by the LSCO last Tuesday. He is charged with one count of felony possession of methamphetamine, one count of misdemeanor reckless driving and one count misdemeanor failure to provide proof of insurance.

• Ricky Lee Spruill, 32, of 8462 Highway 182 in Columbus, was arrested by the LSCO last Wednesday. He is charged with one count of felony burglary.

• Cassie Deann Baker, 21, of 8462 Highway 182 E. in Columbus was arrested by the LSCO last Wednesday. She is charged with one count of felony burglary.

• Mary Gray, 59, of 618 Ninth Ave. S. in Columbus, was arrested by the CPD last Wednesday. She is charged with one count felony DUI, third offense and one count of misdemeanor driving with no insurance.