1 month under new sheriff, deputies see large number of arrests

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office says deputies have been busy over the last month under a new sheriff.

The sheriff’s office says the past 20 days have resulted in:

67 felony arrests, including the apprehension of individuals with outstanding felony warrants
57 firearms seized, reducing the threat posed by illegal weapons. 17 firearms were seized during Broad Street Patrol.
$16,238 in currency seized, disrupting the financial infrastructure of criminal enterprises
38 drug cases addressed, targeting illegal narcotics trafficking and distribution

Aiken County could see bigger rise than ever in homeless total

Aiken County is set to be on track to have more people without homes than in the past. The county is wrapping up its annual “point in time”, or PIT, count.

“Violence will not be tolerated in Richmond County. These teams are working tirelessly to remove dangerous individuals from our streets. We are grateful to our law enforcement partners throughout the CSRA who are working alongside us to get violent criminals off our streets. These efforts have already led to the arrest of five murder suspects wanted for crimes committed before 2025,” said Sheriff Gino Brantley.

Chief of Staff Lewis Blanchard emphasized the critical role law enforcement plays beyond the numbers.

“All areas of RCSO are stepping up, but we want to spotlight what bringing back the Crime Suppression Teams has done to help reduce violence. However, achieving our goals takes every member of the RCSO. Law enforcement does so much that cannot be quantified — such as removing firearms from felons or those intent on committing crimes. We will never truly know how many lives they have saved,” said Blanchard.

The sheriff’s office says deputies “remain committed to making Richmond County a safer place through strong partnerships, proactive enforcement, and unwavering dedication to the community.”