Children injured in burn incident, By Lewis Levine.
Two children were burned around noon on Oct. 10, in what appears to be an accidental burning incident.
According to an incident report filed by the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched to a call of a thermal burn victim in the 5800 block of Highway 196. The incident involved two juvenile children.
The police report indicated EMS personnel were already on scene when they arrived. EMS was attending the children who were then transported to Winn Army Hospital on Fort Stewart.
According to the report, the investigating deputy spoke with the children’s father, Jesse Strickland, who told the officer he was inside the home working in the bathroom when he heard a scream and went outside to investigate what happened and saw the juvenile’s crying.
The deputy also spoke with the children’s grandfather, Richard Strickland, who stated he was outside working on a vehicle when he heard a loud boom and could then hear the children screaming.
The report indicated an old gas can was found on the ground in the vicinity of where the boys where playing. The report states the children’s injuries consisted of burns to the left arm of one child and burns to the face, chest, legs and feet of the other child.
The report goes on to state the children were playing in the yard when apparently the older child got an old gas can and a lighter and poured the old fuel on the ground and lit it on fire causing the injuries to both boys.
The deputy followed up on the children and learned both had been taken to the Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta.
HFP puts out fire at Hineshaw, By Lewis Levine
According to a press release on Oct. 17 at approximately 4:20 p.m. the Hinesville Fire Department was dispatched to a “possible structure fire” in the area of Gause Street and Shipman Avenue. Upon arrival, personnel found light smoke coming from the old Hineshaw Elementary School building located at 208 Shipman Avenue.
Quick action from firefighters resulted in minimal damage to the vacant building. Two juveniles were detained at the scene, questioned and released to their parents. There were no injuries reported and the scene is under investigation by the HFD Fire Marshal’s office.
This past May the historic building was spared from severe damage after the Hinesville Fire Department quickly responded and extinguished a small fire at the structure formerly known as Coastal Academy.
The Hineshaw Rosenwald School is located in a section of the city that was the first area within the city limits, near Rebecca Street and Shipman Avenue, where African-Americans were allowed to purchase land and homes.
HPD warns of scam
According to a Facebook post on Oct. 13, the Hinesville Police Department has received several reports of residents who received calls from individuals who identified themselves as Hinesville Police Officers. These callers demanded money and threatened to arrest the folks if they didn’t pay the fines.
The calls came from phone numbers that appeared on caller ID as phone numbers belonging to HPD. These calls were not made by any officers of the Hinesville Police Department and the phone numbers on the victim’s caller ID was spoofed. HPD wants residents to know they should not pay for anything over the phone. HPD reported in most circumstances HPD does not call individuals who have warrants for their arrest. A very small number of suspects are called and notified of active warrants for their arrest but they are well aware of pending legal action against them and they cannot pay money to have the warrant cleared. HPD does not solicit payments over the phone. HPD reported if you are unsure of the caller’s intentions, hang up and call the Hinesville Police Department directly. HPD will sort out the matter for you and make sure you’re not about to become a victim. If you have questions, call at 912-368-1305 or bwolfe@cityofhinesville.org