Athens Officer Spots Wanted Man on Lexington Rd.

Around 4:10 a.m. Wednesday, an Athens-Clarke County police officer spotted a man at a Lexington Rd convenience store who he believed to have an outstanding warrant.

The officer stopped the offender, Maurice Ritter, at Winterville Road and Nellie B. Avenue before confirming with a computer check that Ritter had a suspended license and had an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in court.

As the officer spoke with Ritter, he reportedly smelled an odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. The officer confirmed the warrant and arrested Ritter. A search of the vehicle revealed a handgun, digital scale, and plastic baggies in the console. A plastic baggie containing what was later confirmed to be marijuana was found behind an air conditioning vent on the driver’s side of the vehicle.

Ritter, 26, was charged with possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and suspended license.

Other incidents reported Wednesday by the Athens-Clarke County Police Department:

BURGLARY: Kristen Shea Zweizig reported her S. Chase Street residence burglarized between 1 p.m. Dec. 20 and 1:30 p.m. Dec. 30. TVs, a DVD player, jewelry, toaster, and router were reportedly stolen at a total value of $1,480.

TERRORISTIC ACT: Joseph Micali of Woodstock said he was traveling eastbound on Broad Street around 1 p.m. Dec. 30. Near the Jackson St. intersection, an unknown person threw a large ball of shaved ice at his vehicle. It struck the frame near the windshield causing minor damage to the paint. Micali said he almost had an accident because of this. He said he looked around but did not see anyone who might have thrown the ice.

THEFT BY TAKING: Robert McPhillips of Greensboro reported his 2011 blue Hyundai Sonata stolen from a North Avenue residence between midnight Dec. 20 and 1 p.m. Dec. 30. The car has a Georgia tag CCK1289 and is valued at $5,000.