A man local drug agents believe was suffering from delusions when he called 911 to report a burglary at his home was arrested Tuesday and faces numerous methamphetamine-related charges.
Savannah-Chatham police initially responded to 35-year-old Robert Boyles’ Beaufort Road home after he called 911 and advised a dispatcher he believed he was home alone and had heard voices inside the residence, said Gene Harley, spokesman for the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team.
The responding officers, searching the home for signs of a burglary, found several items the believed could be related to methamphetamine manufacture and asked CNT agents to respond to the location, Harley said.
Agents quickly confirmed the Savannah-Chatham officers’ suspicions, finding objects used to make and use meth. Agents also found evidence showing a batch of the synthetic narcotic had likely been recently manufactured at the location, Harley said.
“Methamphetamine can make people hear voices, see things that aren’t really there or even believe they feel things like bugs crawling under their skin,” Harley said. “Users also often suffer from persecutory delusion — believing people are out to get them or that they’re under surveillance.”
CNT arrested Boyles and charged him with a number of felony and misdemeanor counts including possession of substances with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine, trafficking methamphetamine and unlawful use of 911. Boyles remains in the Chatham County jail and CNT expects to make additional arrests related to the case, Harley said.
Effingham child attacked by dog
A Rincon child walking home from his grandfather’s house has suffered multiple puncture wounds from dog bites.
The 8-year-old boy was walking down Greenbay Avenue about 2 p.m. Wednesday when the dog attacked, Effingham County Sheriff’s Office spokesman David Ehsanipoor said.
The animal bit the child on the arms and legs, but the injuries are not life-threatening, deputies reported.
Ehsanipoor said the American bulldog mix was roaming at large.
Judy Stanley, 55, of Rincon was arrested and charged with obstruction of a law enforcement officer, dog at large and expired rabies tag after her dog attacked the child.
Ehsanipoor said Stanley turned the dog over to the county. The animal has been taken to the Effingham County Animal Shelter where it will remain for a 10-day quarantine.
Stanley is being held in the Effingham County jail.
Police investigate Tuesday shooting
A 30-year-old man was critically wounded Tuesday evening after he was shot on Savannah’s eastside.
Savannah-Chatham police are investigating the shooting on Skidaway Road near East 51st Street that occurred about 6:30 p.m., said police spokesman Julian Miller.
Miller said the injured man, who remains at Memorial University Medical Center, was involved in an altercation with another man before he was shot.
A lot of vehicles were driving by the area when the shooting happened, Miller said, and investigators would like to talk to anyone who saw the shooting or any events leading up to or following it.
People with information about the case are asked to call CrimeStoppers at 912-234-2020 or text CRIMES (274637). Tipsters remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.
A confidential tip line also is open directly to investigators at 912-525-3124.
Health advisory issued for Tybee’s Polk Street Beach
The Chatham County Health Department has placed Tybee Island’s Polk Street Beach under advisory because of possible risk of illness associated with water contact at that location.
Routine water quality tests taken July 16 at Polk Street Beach — the northernmost portion of Tybee near the mouth of the Savannah River from the end of the beach to the jetty — showed a high level of enterococci bacteria which increase the risk of gastrointestinal illness in swimmers, said Sharon G. Smith, a health services program manager with the health department. The beach is not closed.
Fish and other seafood caught from that area should be thoroughly washed with fresh water and thoroughly cooked before eating as should fish or seafood caught from any waters, Smith said.
The area will be retested July 18 and the advisory will be lifted when tests show the bacteria levels meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s recommended standards.
Compiled by Corey Dickstein and DeAnn Komanecky.