Columbia County Sheriff's Office's response to this past weekend's incidents at the Columbia County Spring Fair
EVANS, Ga. (WJBF) – This weekend, the Columbia County Spring Fair saw its fair share of fights involving children. There has been social media chatter about people saying they saw a gun or heard gunshots. I talked with the Columbia County Sheriff's Department about what happened.
Although the Fair has a rule that a parent must accompany children 17 and under after 7 PM, there were still many incidents on Friday night, including fights between a 14- and 16-year-old, and Saturday night, the Fair had to close early at 9:30 due to unsupervised kids cutting lines and not following rules.
'Based on the fact of disruptions and the unruliness. The Merchants Association decided to close down the Fair,' said Andy Shedd, Special Operations Division, Columbia County Sheriff's Office.
People at the Fair say they saw a gun or heard gunshots, but investigators say they have no proof that weapons were shown or fired at the Fair.
'There is no indication and no proof whatsoever that that occurred. It was a social media myth that ran rampant, but our officers that were there were obviously eyewitnesses to the entire incident and to the unruliness, and they said there were no shots that were fired,' said Shedd.
One attendee was there with her family. She says that as they were leaving, they saw an officer rushing to where an incident must have occurred. They could tell from the moment they got to the fair that it was different and more hectic than in previous years.
'Next thing you know, you've got a big crowd of people screaming and running past us,' said Sheena Inglett at Saturday night's fair. 'My husband grabbed me and the baby, and we went beside a vendor, and she had us hide behind one of her curtains because nobody knew what was going on.'
Inglett says she hopes attendees get refunds because some had just gotten to the Fair before they were forced to leave. Shedd says they are looking into videos.
'If we can prove that someone was an instigator, then they will definitely be charged,' said Shedd.
The sheriff's office plans to provide more officers this weekend to ensure the safety of people who want to attend the Fair.
'Our plans for this this upcoming weekend is to bolster our efforts in security and have even more officers on hand so that nothing like this happens again,' said Shedd.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Yahoo
Security beefing up in Atlanta over potential protests
ATLANTA (WJBF) – Security is being tightened up in Atlanta ahead of anticipated protests this weekend similar to the anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles. Georgia's Attorney Chris Carr said Americans have the right to protest peacefully, but those who destroy property, loot businesses or attack police officers will be prosecuted. Carr says protesters use words, while rioters use violence. If you engage in violence, Carr says you could face domestic terrorism charges which is up to 35 years behind bars. The ACLU of Georgia says this Saturday, up to 5,000 Georgians are expected to protest at liberty plaza outside the state capitol for No Kings Day — for what they say is an abuse of the Trump administration's power to first amendment rights. 'People who are out on the streets, who have signs, who have megaphones, are not rioters and are using their first amendment rights. We are seeing this happen to portray protesters as criminals is very problematic and we have concerns about that,' said Sarah Hunt-Blackwell, ACLU of Georgia. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp says he is monitoring the situation and working with law enforcement agencies like the GBI and FBI to ensure public safety is protected. 'The freedom to dissent without fear of government retribution is a vital part of any well-functioning democracy. Protesters in Georgia have every right to call attention to the injustices by the Trump administration including its trampling of immigrant rights, drastic cuts to Medicaid, attacks on transgender people, and general disregard of democratic norms' said Christopher Bruce, Policy & Advocacy Director of the ACLU of Georgia. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Yahoo
'Enough deadly fentanyl to potentially kill millions', Atlanta man indicted on drug, firearms charges
ATLANTA, Ga. (WJBF) – The FBI indicted an Atlanta man after massive amounts of guns and drugs were found at his Georgia homes. Bartholomew Keeton Harralson, 47, was charged Tuesday by a federal grand jury. Charges include: Possession with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, Cocaine, Heroin,and Marijuana Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Harralson allegedly possessed 28 firearms, including a machine gun, and hundreds of thousands of pills containing fentanyl and other illicit drugs, the authorities said. 'This armed felon allegedly ran a massive fentanyl pill pressing operation in our community, producing enough deadly fentanyl to potentially kill millions of people,' said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. 'Due to the quick action and seamless collaboration of our law enforcement partners, Harralson now faces federal drug and firearms charges, his operation has been dismantled, and countless lives have almost certainly been saved.' According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On June 5th, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant at the suspect's Atlanta area home. Once inside, law enforcement reportedly located over 56 kilograms of fentanyl, 84 kilograms of methamphetamine, nearly 10 kilograms of heroin, and approximately four kilograms of cocaine – all in the form of powders and hundreds of thousands of pressed pills. Law enforcement allegedly located nine firearms, including one converted to function as a machine gun, $145,000 in cash, and a book titled 'How to Avoid Federal Drug Conspiracy & Firearms Charges.' Harralson was arrested at the scene. Later that same day, law enforcement executed another federal search warrant at Harralson's Douglasville home. In that residence, law enforcement found: 2 large pill press machines capable of pressing up to 25,000 pills per hour 3 hydraulic presses used to form kilogram-sized bricks of narcotics more than 37 kilograms of fentanyl approximately 13 kilograms of methamphetamine just over 8 kilograms of heroin more than 6 kilograms of cocaine In addition, in a machine shop located behind the Douglasville residence, law enforcement found approximately 1,375 pounds of binding agent used to press pills, 564 punch dies to mark the pills, 19 firearms, four drum-style magazines, and a significant amount of ammunition. The FBI wants to remind the public that Bartholomew Keeton Harralson is presumed innocent until proven 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Yahoo
Authorities search for missing woman after North Augusta vehicle crash
NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. (WJBF) – North Augusta Public Safety responded to a motor vehicle collision on Gregory Lake Road Wednesday afternoon after a vehicle left the roadway and went into a ditch. Officers state that the vehicle was 'operated by a white female who exited the vehicle and wandered off into the woods.' According to the department, the woman has been identified as Susan Rhodes. She was wearing bright red shirt and an arm sling when she was last seen going through the yard at 2224 Gregory Lake Road. North Augusta Public Safety stated a witness said she appeared to be disoriented and possibly suffering from some type of medical issue. Those who have located or seen Rhodes are asked to notify dispatch at (803) 441-4200. Edgefield County Sheriffs office and Aiken County Sheriff's office have been assisting in the search with K-9s and Drones. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
