Officers responded to a local hotel in reference to a possible theft.

While speaking with our team, hotel staff stated that they caught a woman attempting to steal items out of their storage shed. During the course of the investigation, the suspect provided officers with a fake name and date of birth. She was then placed under arrest and charged with Theft by Taking and Giving a False Name and Date of Birth to Law Enforcement.

After learning her correct biographical information, our team discovered that she had been reported missing from South Carolina. Contact was made with the entering agency, and they were informed that the woman had been located.

A report was filed, and no further action was taken during that time.

Officers responded to a short-term vacation rental on Lewis Avenue in reference to a noise complaint.

Upon their arrival in the area, they were able to hear loud music and yelling coming from the property. When they knocked on the door, however, they could see people inside actively ignoring them. At one point, they walked around to the side gate and spoke with someone in the backyard who retrieved the man responsible for the rental.

After being presented with a citation for the noise violation, the renter informed officers that he thought it was “bullshit” and refused to sign. The music was turned off, the occupants went inside, and no further action was taken during that time.

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A concerned citizen came to the Tybee Island Police Department to turn over a wallet they found.

Upon inspection, an officer noted that the wallet contained an out-of-state driver’s license, miscellaneous cards, and over $300 in cash. The wallet and its contents were then packaged as found property and placed into an evidence locker for safekeeping.

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While participating in a Road Safety Checkpoint, officers encountered a car that had an odor of marijuana wafting through its open windows. During the course of a subsequent search based on probable cause, officers discovered 1.49 ounces of marijuana in a gray plastic bag.

The driver was then placed under arrest and received the felony charge of Possession of Marijuana (More than an ounce).

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Shortly thereafter, officers at the Road Safety Check encountered another car with the heavy odor of marijuana billowing from within. During the course of a subsequent search based on probable cause, officers recovered 6.41 ounces of marijuana from within the vehicle.

Two occupants were then placed under arrest and charged with Possession of Marijuana (More than an ounce) and Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute.

One of our officers stopped a vehicle for having defective brake lights.

While talking to the driver, the officer learned that he did not have a license. The officer also noted that there was a small child in the car without a proper safety seat. The driver was then placed under arrest and charged with Defective Equipment, No Driver’s License, and a Child Safety Seat violation.

The child and its mother were given a courtesy ride to the Tybee Island Police Department to await a safe ride home.

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One of our detectives responded to the scene of a Georgia State Patrol traffic stop, in reference to the discovery of a makeshift machine gun.

Upon inspection, the detective noted that the weapon was a Glock handgun equipped with a device commonly referred to as a “Glock Switch”. This is an illegal, aftermarket modification which makes the gun capable of fully automatic fire.

The weapon was then seized as evidence and placed into our evidence room to await retrieval by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF).

All three of the vehicle’s occupants were arrested by the Georgia State Patrol and charged with Unlawful Possession of Firearms.

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Another officer with the Tybee Island Police Department stopped a vehicle for a window tint violation.

During the course of the stop, a narcotics detection K9 alerted on the vehicle. A subsequent search based on probable cause revealed several multi-colored pills believed to be Ecstasy. After claiming ownership, the passenger of the vehicle was placed under arrest and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance.

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While on patrol, an officer stopped another vehicle for a window tint violation.

While talking to the driver, the officer noticed a tobacco vape sitting in the center console. Further investigation revealed that none of vehicle’s occupants were of legal age to possess tobacco products. During the course of a subsequent search based on probable cause, officers recovered three firearms, including a Mini-Draco, an AR-15 style pistol, and a Glock handgun which appeared to have been modified to accept a device commonly referred to as a “Glock Switch”. When asked, none of the vehicle’s occupants knew who the guns belonged to.

As such, the weapons were taken into police custody and stored in our evidence room for safekeeping. A report was filed, and no further action was taken at that time.

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Later that evening, an officer stopped a vehicle for Following Too Closely and Failure to Use Headlights After Dark.

While talking to the driver, the officer noticed that his eyes were red and that he slurred his words as he spoke. When asked how much alcohol he had that evening, the man admitted to “One High Noon” earlier in the evening.

During the course of the subsequent investigation, however, the officer found additional evidence to suggest that the man had been operating the vehicle while under the influence. He was then placed under arrest, and charged with Following Too Closely, Failure to Use Headlights After Dark, and DUI (Less Safe).

During a search of the vehicle based on probable cause, officers discovered several open containers of alcohol, a handgun, and individual baggies of marijuana packaged for distribution. As a result, the man received additional charges of Open Container, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime, and Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute.

One of our officers stopped a vehicle for failing to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians in a marked crosswalk.

While talking to the driver, the officer learned that his license was suspended several times over. The driver was then placed under arrest. and charged with a Crosswalk Violation and Driving While License Suspended.

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Officers responded to the 15th Street parking lot for a subject attempting to take his vehicle out of impound without paying the tow fee.

The vehicle was stopped a short time later and the driver was arrested for Theft of Services.

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An officer stopped a vehicle for a window tint and seatbelt violation.

During the course of the traffic stop, a narcotics detection K9 alerted on the vehicle. A subsequent search based on probable cause revealed a bag containing multiple pressed pills believed to be MDMA, and several small bags of marijuana. The driver was then placed under arrest and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance.

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As the permitted event began to draw to a close, crowds of people began to leave the beach and walk northbound on Butler Avenue. During this time, one of our officers was monitoring the crowds when he heard of a group of men arguing in the parking lot of a nearby Inn. Moving to intervene, he saw the fight turn physical.

As the officer began pulling the men away from one another, he spotted one of the combatants clutching a handgun in front of his stomach, as if preparing to raise it. Upon noticing the officer, the armed man turned and began running through the parking lot towards the Inn. At that time, the officer gave chase while ordering the man to “Drop the gun!”. As he approached a parked vehicle, the suspect tossed his gun into its open trunk and raised his hands to surrender. The handgun was taken into police custody, and the man was charged with Obstruction.

A second man was also charged with Disorderly Conduct and Affray for his part in the original altercation.

An officer stopped a vehicle for having a defective tag light and a traffic cone lodged under its front bumper.

While talking to the teenaged driver, the officer noticed that her eyes were “glassy” and “watery”. When asked, the woman denied having any alcohol that evening, citing the fact that she was the designated driver.

During the course of the subsequent investigation, however, the officer found additional evidence to suggest that the woman had been operating the vehicle while under the influence. She was then placed under arrest and charged with a Tag Light Violation and DUI (Under 21).

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A concerned citizen came to the Tybee Island Police Department to turn in train tickets that they found on the beach.

The items were packaged as found property and placed into an evidence locker for safekeeping.

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Officers responded to a local surf shop in reference to damage to property.

While speaking with our team, employees stated that a vehicle had backed into a merchandise tent, causing approximately $500 in damage.

A report was filed, and both parties were provided with information for follow-up.

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Officers responded to a local motel in reference to a man allegedly exposing his genitals to a female employee.

While the man attempted to deny the incident, surveillance footage told a different story. He was then placed under arrest and charged with Public Indecency.