Bainbridge - Two of the three burglars were in custody minutes after their break-in, and a couple of hours later, Public Safety arrested the third on Wednesday.

At about 6 p.m., Martha Miller saw three men going into the back door of her son’s home at 401 South Sims Street. She ran and told her husband and then fearlessly took off into the house to stop them. L.D. Miller was right behind her with a shotgun in hand.

Miller told us that one male tried to head for the back door, and he shoved his shotgun in his stomach. The thief then ran to the bathroom, locked the door, and escaped through the front bathroom window.

The other two burglars appeared to have dived through a back window of the home to escape.

Within minutes, a number of Public Safety officers were searching the area. Several good citizens saw the three males take off running east on Evans Street and alerted responding Public Safety officers.

Viper Sgt. James Dollar grabbed Tavar Shaika, 18, and Officer Hank Day grabbed the 16-year-old offender about six blocks away near the corner of Wheat and Evans streets. The Millers positively identified the suspects, and in a search of the two, items stolen from the home were discovered in their possession.

Investigator Chris Jordan responded and after speaking with the suspects, processed the burglary for fingerprint and blood evidence. Blood was left on the back window the culprits went through.

A couple of hours later, a tip led Investigator Jordan and Sgt. Dollar to a Shotwell Street fast food restaurant. Inside they found the third burglar and arrested 17-year-old Jevarri Barr.

Charged with burglary are Tavar Bernard Shaika, 18, of 786 Old Pelham Road and Jevarri Barr, 17, of 1317 Fourth Street, along with a 16-year-old juvenile. The juvenile was sent on to Blakely.

Blakely - Early County Sheriff’s office investigators arrested three people last week in connection with the April 17 drowning death of 33-year-old Leonard Scott Rathel of Cairo.

Those arrested were 54-year-old Richard Harold Coleman of Jakin, 34-year-old Scott Evans Johnson of Moultrie, and 29-year-old Jamie Dawn Jones of Donalsonville. All three individuals have been charged with false statements and writing.

The body of Rathel, who drowned in the Chattahoochee River April 17, was recovered April 20 when his body was spotted shortly after it surfaced near the Saffold sand bar where he disappeared.

Due to conflicting information from witnesses, the search for the drowning victim did not begin until two days after the drowning.

Rathel was one of several adults and children enjoying an outing on a sandbar in Saffold on April 17 when he apparently drowned. He was reported missing that day, but witnesses did not confirm that he had apparently drowned until the following Monday.

Investigation into the death of Rathel is ongoing. Coleman has been released on a $10,000 bond while Johnson, who was on parole, and Jones, under probation, are currently being held in the Early County Jail.

Blounstown - A man who allegedly turned his grandmother’s home into a meth lab while she was away has been arrested.

James Paul Tucker has been charged with manufacture of methamphetamine and possession of listed chemicals with the intent to unlawfully manufacture a controlled substance.

Sgt. Jared Nichols and Deputy Eddie Dalton responded to a Bates Road home in Altha after family members discovered suspicious items. According to the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office, relatives were preparing the house for the grandmother’s return when a broken window, an electric hotplate, a measuring cup with a clear liquid, and several empty bottles were found. They called authorities, and when investigators arrived, the cup on the hotplate was warm to the touch, indicating someone had just used it. Authorities cleared the house and found Tucker hiding in the shower with several lithium batteries and a bag of ammonium nitrate. Other items used to make meth were also located, leading to Tucker’s arrest.