Metro Police Marine Patrol officers are scanning the east end of the Savannah riverfront in search of a male reportedly seen in the river Sunday morning.
Divers from the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department and Savannah Fire and Rescue, aided by officers on shore and on boats belonging to SCMPD, Savannah Fire, U.S. Coast Guard and Georgia Department of Natural Resources and a coast guard helicopter had searched the area for several hours.
Metro divers were forced to discontinue their search about 1 p.m. when falling tides created currents that were too dangerous for the underwater search to continue.
Two witnesses said they saw the black male appearing to be in his teens or early 20s sitting along the waterfront and then heard a splash. They reported seeing him in the water asking for help but were unable to get a nearby rope to him before he sank.
Anyone with information on the identity of the male who was reportedly wearing a white shirt and no shoes is asked to call Emergency 911.
• Police have intensified their search for one of six suspects considered armed and dangerous and arrested another.
Police expanded their search for David Randy Daniels Jr., 21, to Florida and South Carolina. He is wanted for the murder of Syheem Spaulding, 15, and Dominique Bright, 18, and the shooting of Sha'nai Harris, 15, at East 39th and Cedar streets on July 30.
Violent Crimes detectives continue to warn anyone who knows the location of Daniels not to approach him but to call Emergency 911 immediately.
They also can call Crimestoppers at (912) 234-2020 or text CRIMES (274637). A second fugitive, Toney Coppock, 23, was arrested Thursday night by members of the U.S. Marshals Southeastern Regional Fugitive Task Force and Metro officers who were searching a residence on East Bolton Street. He was armed when apprehended and in possession of ammunition and narcotics.
Coppock has been charged with criminal attempt at murder, aggravated assault and violation of probation for the shooting of Gerald Williams, Jr., on the 3100 block of Skidaway Road, July 16. Also arrested were Elaunah Burroughs, 18, for hindering apprehension (felony) and Brittany Coppock, 23, for a Chatham County Contempt of Court Warrant.
• A collaborative effort between the United States Marshals, Effingham County Sheriff, the Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force, the GBI and the GA Department of Corrections, and Georgia State Parole conducted checks of registered sex offenders in Effingham County.
This joint operation resulted in the successful location and verification of 83 sex offenders. Of the 83 offenders that were verified, 6 were also on state parole and 40 were on state probation.
Four subjects were arrested. One was arrested for a probation violation and possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute. One was arrested for existing warrants for failure to register as a sex offender and failure to appear in Effingham County. State Parole and State Probation officers each arrested one person for violations of their conditions of supervision.
