Posted: Wed 7:20 PM, Apr 07, 2010
Reporter: Bryan Baker Email
Updated: Wed 7:20 PM, Apr 07, 2010

RCSO enjoys lower crime during Masters week

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News 12 at 6 O'Clock, April 7, 2010

AUGUSTA -- They're out there. Dozens of Richmond County sheriff's deputies direct traffic and keep order during a hectic time around Augusta National.

"Usually a dull, boring kind of week," said Lt. Jimmy Young. "A lull before the storm, sometimes, it gives you a chance to get caught up and catch your breath."

Young isn't talking about the Masters Tournament. He means overall crime, which he says decreases annually during Masters Week.

"The makeup of the city just changes Masters Week, and on the west side of the county where all the tournament action is going on, there's just a heavier police presence," he said.

From March 29-31, Monday through Wednesday last week, there were 295 arrests. This week, also Monday through Wednesday, there were 187 arrests--over 100 fewer. That's despite the fact that thousands more people are concentrated in one area.

Burglaries and other thefts have dropped. But so have violent crimes, like assault.

Then there's soliciting business from the roadway. 46-year-old William Assel, Jr. of New York was charged with it on Washington Road. RCSO says he likely was selling or buying tickets. He posted bond and has been released.

And though the calls and the crimes have slowed down for investigators, they expect there won't be much of a break.

Said Young: "Next week it will go right back to normal."

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.
  • by Terry Location: home on Apr 11, 2010 at 04:11 PM
    Suspected murder on Travis Road, Hephzibah; that is still Richmond County.
  • by Anonymous on Apr 8, 2010 at 03:56 PM
    cd,sounds like someone stepped on your toes or maybe your spouse's. people know about "specials", most of these people's comments reflect poor leadership from our augusta gov. i for one knows that ronnie and his crew do the best he has the funds for. what most people think is stop cutting budget to ronnie and stop trying to do bull$%#@ like a new ballpark, trollies, tee centers,etc. the people of augusta would like to see more police instead of these made-up, not-needed things. now pull your undies out the crack!!!
  • by CD Location: Augusta on Apr 8, 2010 at 01:45 PM
    You people are something else. One, the extra Deputies at the Masters are working specials and are not on regular duty. Country Club and Hooters pay out of their pocket for the Deputy presence. The article is about lower crime, not crime disappearing completely. Kimberly, if you are so smart, why not be a Deputy yourself. The city does what it can to prevent crime. It isn't Deke's fault there are a bunch of low life criminals running around all the time. The doughnut comment is so old! Get a life people. The Masters brings millions to the Augusta/Richmond County area and, if the patrons can't feel safe then they won't hold the event here in the future. To most of you ignorance must be bliss.
  • by Bombquisha Location: Augusta on Apr 8, 2010 at 12:30 PM
    Same knuckleheads that were here last week committing crimes are still in town...... don't believe the hype!
  • by Kimberly Location: North Augusta on Apr 8, 2010 at 10:18 AM
    Yeah right...just last night as I was driving down Betram(keep in mind that at Hooters and the Country Club directly across the street there are a large amount of Richmond Co. police officers)...I pass a young couple walking and the poor woman is in tears, flagging me down to stop. I did and the couple had just been robbed at GUNPOINT!! Seriously? And the whole time the "responding (joke)" officer mishandled the entire thing. Another officer caught a man fitting the description moments after I called 911...and then the responding officer was going to have the other office bring the suspect TO THE VICTIMS HOME!!! SO after I asked him what kind of sense that made...he took the victims to a different parking lot to id the suspect...and then drove back to us and said "that couldn't be the guy who did it...he(the suspect) said he has a broken hip and he was limping when he walked"...seriously richmond county? This is the best you can do?
  • by ha! on Apr 8, 2010 at 09:48 AM
    so the safety/well being of out of town guests means more to law enforcement than that of the daily residents of augusta! maybe deke can work on our safety year round...not just when his friends/family are in town!
  • by Bombquisha Location: Augusta on Apr 8, 2010 at 09:02 AM
    Probably lower because they have been watching the news for reports..and absolutely NOTHING criminal happens during Masters week........right??
  • by Anonymous on Apr 7, 2010 at 09:48 PM
    how did you get them out of the doughnut shop
  • by Anonymous on Apr 7, 2010 at 08:29 PM
    decreases where? on the hill? washington road? the criminals know that all the police force is primary in the radius of the masters and south augusta still catches the blunt side of the axe. let's not forget the masters visitor that had his vehicle riddled with bullets not too long ago.
  • by Rick R Location: Augusta on Apr 7, 2010 at 08:03 PM
    More police presence equals less crimes? Whoo would have thought of that? Maybe the city should learn a lesson from this and have more police presence year round, not just to protect the cities image in front of a national audience.

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