Yesterday afternoon (10/17) at approximately 3:30pm, detectives were in the area of NE Albritton Lane when they observed a male subject attempting to force his way into an abandoned residence. The detectives made contact with the male who was identified as Richard Thomas Jr. (49). Upon making contact with Thomas as he was exiting the front door, they observed the doorknob to the residence was damaged and lying on the ground. Detectives asked if anyone else was inside the residence and Thomas said there was a female inside. Detectives ordered her out of the residence, and she was detained. The female was identified as Ashton Nash (32).
After being detained, both Thomas and Nash admitted they did not know the owner of the property and did not have permission to be there. They were also both found to be in possession of drugs and paraphernalia.
The detectives had been in the area working on an un-related case and had previously known the door to this residence to have been secured earlier in the day.
“These detectives could have easily been pre-occupied with other things, but they were aware of their surroundings and stopped any further damage from occurring to this property,” said Sheriff Mark Hunter. “I am proud of their initiative to look into something that just didn’t seem right.”
Both subjects were transported to the Columbia County Detention Facility without further incident. Thomas was charged with burglary of an unoccupied dwelling/unarmed, criminal mischief, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Nash was charged with burglary of an unoccupied dwelling/unarmed, criminal mischief, and possession of a control substance.
Nash (L), Thomas (R)
