Roughly before 5 a.m. on Sunday, September 26, Swainsboro Police units were dispatched to the address of 203 South Circle Drive in reference to a burglary by forced entry of a residence.
In a detailed report released by Swainsboro Police Department, it stated that the offender was still inside the residence when Emanuel County 9-1-1 was notified. Fortunately, officers were in the vicinity and were on scene within 20 seconds of receiving the call from 9-1-1. Upon arrival, an officer observed a white in color 2019 Buick Encore attempting to leave the location. The officer pulled his patrol vehicle behind the Buick in an attempt to block the driver. Despite the attempted block and the officer blowing the patrol unit’s horn to stop the driver, the offender continued backing up from the location, striking the patrol unit. The offender was ordered to step out of the vehicle, in which he eventually complied, and was placed under arrest without incident.
Once restrained, officers performed a search on the offender’s body and found no weapons, - only several rachet straps around the offender’s waist. According to the officers, during the search, the offender, identified as Steven Justin Thames of an Adrian address, made comments about “Looking in a black pumpkin and that not being part of the deal.” He was later transferred to the Emanuel County Jail for booking.
The victim, Sybil Wilkerson, who was in the apartment and owner of the Buick told the officers she heard something and set up in the bed and saw the offender in the hallway. She yelled ‘What are you doing in here’. According to the report, the offender paced around and left. Wilkerson told officers the keys to her vehicle were on the counter and the offender must have taken them.
According to the incident report taken by the police department, Thames gained access into the apartment by using a ladder he positioned under the porch of the second-floor apartment and forced his way into the apartment, damaging the latch mechanism that held the door closed.
Thames has been charged with burglary-forced entry-residence, theft by taking auto and interference with government property. He is currently in Emanuel County Jail.
Emanuel County Sheriff’s Office responded to assist with the scene.
