Benny Curl, of Savannah-based Byrd Cookie Co., has been included in the inaugural class of inductees into the Specialty Food Association Hall of Fame.

Curl was among 114 individuals — some of them involved in the specialty food industry as far back as the 1950s — who were chosen based on their “accomplishments, impact, innovations and contributions to the specialty food industry.”

“The specialty food industry is built on the creativity and passion of individuals who have worked hard to bring top quality food and new flavors to market. We are proud to recognize these pioneers,” said Ann Daw, Specialty Food Association president.

Association members and its hall of fame committee selected the inaugural hall of fame class.

“I was surprised and honored to receive this award from The Specialty Food Association,” Curl said Wednesday. “Our family is proud of the fact that Byrd Cookie Company is considered as one of the leaders in the gourmet food industry throughout the United States.

“As I review the list of members of The Specialty Food Association’s Hall of Fame, I am pleased to be a member of this prestigious group.”

Curl serves as Byrd’s chairman emeritus and focuses on legislation, labeling and overall awareness of industry trends and opportunities. He has served — and continues to serve — on various boards and committees in Savannah.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture reached out to Curl initially to lead the Georgia Specialty Food & Wine group where he served as president and was instrumental in

providing information to the state’s manufacturers, retailers and specialty food consumers.

After working with the agriculture department’s specialty food outreach, he was elected to the board of the Specialty Food Association, where he served for 16 years in a variety of positions.

Benny Curl and his wife Kay Byrd Curl were the third generation of the family to own Byrd Cookies. In 2011, they sold the firm to their daughter, Stephanie Lindley.

Curl’s partnerships with Disney and other amusement parks were considered the first of their kind. Under his leadership, Byrd’s Famous Cookies developed a strong private label business and, at the height of those partnerships, Byrd’s Famious Cookies had seven of the top 10 selling food products in all of the parks.

The Specialty Food Association, which has 3,000 members in the U.S. and abroad, inducted its first hall of fame class Jan. 11 in San Francisco.

Savannah-Chatham Metro police will be operating radar hot spots along Abercorn Street and Rio Road.

Police remind drivers there is zero tolerance for speeding in school zones.

Read the obituaries.

Mr. Joseph A. Ballantyne, Savannah, GA

Mr. Jacob Bellinger, Estill, SC

Mr. George M. Bennett, Sr., Savannah, GA

Rev. Dr. Dagogo Benson-Jaja, Ph.D., Sav.

Doris Estelle Burch, Jesup, GA

Mr. Wallace Elbert Cabral, Sapelo Island, GA

Mr. Erle G. Case III, Savannah, GA

Rev. Walter F. Chapman, Sr., Valrico, FL

Mr. Ronald N. Coleman, Savannah, GA

Helen Exley Hobbs Dasher, Rincon, GA

Mrs. Boontong Davis, Savannah, GA

Ruth Venegas Donaldson, Metter/Matthews

Ezra Doyle, Swainsboro, GA

Mr. Franklin Edwards, Savannah, GA

Mr. Nicholas Fields, Ridgeland, SC

Mr. John Martin Frey, Sr., Statesboro, GA

Mr. Oved Gonzales, Guyton, GA

Mr. Charles Hughes, Savannah, GA

Mr. Louis Jackson, Savannah, GA

Mr. William Kareem Major, Beaufort, SC

Mr. William Alva McCormack, Laurens, SC

Mr. William E. Melton, Statesboro, GA

Mr. Michael J. Morgan, Ludowici, GA

Mr. Raymond Rondeau, Savannah, GA

Mrs. Jaquana Salgado, Savannah, GA

Mr. David Scarver, Savannah, GA

Mr. Jackie Stokes Simpson, Hazlehurst, GA

Mr. James Sutter, Savannah, GA

Mr. Edgar W. Swanson, Jr., Vernon Hills, IL

LTC John Torrell, U.S. Army (Ret.), Pooler, GA

Mr. Edward J. Vertovec, Elmhurst, IL

Mrs. Mary Ward, Savannah, GA

Charlotte Dasher Whitfield, Twin City, GA

Mother Mildred Rose Williams, Guyton, GA

Mr. Robert Gregg Williamson, Savannah, GA

Savannah State announced its 2015 football schedule on Wednesday. The Tigers will play eight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference games and two Football Bowl Subdivision opponents — Colorado State and Akron.

It’s the first time SSU has played only the minimum of 10 games since 2009.

The Tigers open in Fort Collins, Colo., against Colorado State. SSU won’t come home until Oct. 3 against Florida A&M.

Here’s a look at the schedule:

Sept. 5 at Colorado State

Sept. 19 at Akron

Sept. 26 at Bethune-Cookman

Oct. 3 vs. Florida A&M*

Oct. 10 at Morgan State

Oct. 17 vs. North Carolina Central

Oct. 31 at Howard University

Nov. 7 at Norfolk State

Nov. 14 vs. Hampton University*

Nov. 21 vs. South Carolina State*

* denotes home game

Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police investigators ask the public’s help in identifying the person, who on two occasions committed armed robbery at Family Dollar locations, according to police spokeswoman Eunicia Baker.

The first robbery occurred Jan. 1, at Family Dollar on the 800 block of Habersham Street. The second incident was Jan. 7 on the 7300 block of Skidaway Road.

In both cases, surveillance footage showed the suspect entering the stores and holding clerks at gunpoint while demanding cash, before fleeing on foot. The suspect was last seen running southbound on Habersham Street.

The suspect was last seen wearing a gray long sleeved thermal shirt, black pants and a gray skull cap. He is believed to be a black male in his early 20s, standing 5-7 to 5-10 and weighing 150 to 170. The suspect also has a beard.

Anyone with information on this case should call Crimestoppers at (912) 234-2020 or text CRIMES (274637) using the keyword CSTOP2020. Tipsters remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward. 

An investigation into the death of a Chatham County man during a single-vehicle wreck Tuesday night is ongoing, police said.

Clyde Laursen, 88, was pronounced dead at Memorial University Medical Center, where he was taken after the 10:30 p.m. crash at the front gate of the Landings subdivision at Diamond Causeway and Green Island Road.

Laursen was the only occupant of a white Pontiac Grand Prix that was exiting the subdivision when it left the roadway, entered the median, struck a tree and rolled onto its passenger side in the entrance lanes of the Landings, said Julian Miller, Savannah-Chatham police spokesman.

The wreck is being investigated by the police department’s Major Accident Investigation Team.

Investigators are asking for the public’s help identifying a person they say broke into a car outside of an eastside Savannah church and two other suspects who used credit cards stolen from the vehicle.

About 9:30 a.m. Thursday, someone broke the windows of an SUV parked at the day care of Bible Baptist Church on the 4700 block of Skidaway Road, said Eunicia Baker, Savannah-Chatham police spokeswoman. Investigators believe the suspect noticed a purse in the front passenger seat.

About 45 minutes later, several large purchases were made using one of the stolen credit cards at the Target on East Victory Drive. Additional attempts to use the cards were made at two other Savannah businesses, Baker said.

Target surveillance cameras show two suspects making the fraudulent purchases just after 10 a.m. Both are described as black females in their late teens to early 20s, standing about 5 feet 6 inches tall. During the incident they both wore loose fitting hooded jackets.

The entering auto suspect is described as a black male, with a medium brown complexion, in his early to mid-20s. He stands about 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs 175 pounds. During the crime, he wore a black hooded shirt and blue jeans. He was last seen running north on Skidaway Road towards LaRoche Avenue, Baker said.

Anyone with information on this case should call CrimeStoppers at 912-234-2020 or text CRIMES (274637) using the keyword CSTOP2020. Tipsters remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.

South State Bank announced Thursday that John C. Helmken II has been named Georgia market president.

“John’s ability to build and lead his team has been essential in growing our southern Georgia market,” said Greg Lapointe, South State Bank northern banking group president. “His leadership will be a valuable asset as we continue to grow our presence throughout Georgia.”

Helmken joined The Savannah Bank in 1994 as vice president and worked in various leadership roles including president and CEO before South State bought The Savannah Bank in August 2012.

Helmken is a graduate of the University of Georgia and earned a bachelor of business administration in finance. He is also a graduate of Leadership Savannah and Leadership Georgia.

He serves on the boards of the Georgia Historical Society, Armstrong State University Foundation, Savannah Community Foundation, Bethesda Academy, The Savannah Country Day School and Ossabaw Island Foundation.

“It is an exciting time for our bank, and I’m excited about expanding our bank and customer base in Georgia,” Helmken said. “We are fortunate to have two outstanding regional presidents — Holden Hayes in the southern part of our state and Scott Wayne in the northern Georgia market.

“Together, we will be able to drive an economic impact even greater than that already enjoyed in our Savannah region and the 10-county

north Georgia region. We understand our state, its people and our communities, and we look forward to growing our customer base in Georgia.”

ABOUT SOUTH STATE BANK:

South State Corp. is the largest bank holding company with headquarters in South Carolina. Founded in 1933, the company’s primary subsidiary, South State Bank, has been serving communities in 19 South Carolina counties, 12 Georgia counties and four North Carolina counties for more than 80 years.

The bank also operates Minis & Co. Inc. and First Southeast 401K Fiduciaries Inc., both registered investment advisors; and First Southeast Investor Services Inc., a limited purpose broker-dealer.

South State Corp. has assets of approximately $7.9 billion, and its stock is traded under the symbol SSB on the NASDAQ Global Select Market. For more information, visit www.SouthStateBank.com.

The host St. Andrew’s girls basketball team beat previously undefeated Thomas Heyward Academy 44-32 on Thursday in a SCISA Region 2-AA matchup.

Grace Turner led the Lions with 19 points, and Emily Sims scored 17 points with eight rebounds for the Lions.

Liz Bunton and Sydney Glassberg had eight points each for Thomas Heyward of Ridgeland, S.C.

THA (32)

Liz Bunton 8, Sydney Glassberg 8, Gray 6, Delong 5, Bryan 2, Davis 2, Peeples 1.

SAS (44)

Grace Turner 19, Emily Sims 17, Suh 5, R. Wixon 3.

Halftime—SAS 20-18. Records—Thomas Heyward 11-1, 1-1 SCISA Region 2-AA; SAS 5-5, 2-1 region.

BOYS BASKETBALL

ST. ANDREW’S 64,

THOMAS HEYWARD 39

St. Andrew’s improved to 8-4 on the season with a win over visiting Thomas Heyward.

Nick Dabit led the Lions with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Nate Mayo scored 14 points, John Winn added 12 and Seth Hanberry chipped in with 11 points for St. Andrew’s. Michael Hall added three points and fived assists.

THA (39)

Jason Quick 14, Patel 9, Roach 4, Sanders 2, Driscoll 1, Kunich 9.

SAS (64)

Nick Dabit 16, Nate Mayo 14, John Winn 12, Seth Hanberry 11, Hall 3, Barnhill 4, Perrie 4.

Halftime—SAS 37-13. Records—THA 6-7, 0-4 Region 2-AA; SAS 8-4, 1-2 region.

Savannah-Chatham Metro police will be operating radar hot spots along White Bluff Road.

Police remind drivers there is zero tolerance for speeding in school zones.

Read the obituaries.

Mr. George M. Bennett, Savannah, GA

Mrs. Iris Smith Carter, Savannah, GA

Honor Cumming Cobbs, Savannah, GA

Mrs. Jessie Elizabeth Bland Conner, Lyons, GA

Constance Mary Degenhart, Columbia, SC

Mr. Glenn Edwards, Rincon, GA

Mrs. Willie Mae Evans, Savannah, GA

Mrs. Bernice Jackson Green, Savannah, GA

Mrs. Lucillie Brown Hendry, Savannah, GA

Minister Lou Ethel Hill, HHI, SC

Mr. Richard Holmes, Milledgeville, GA

Mr. Johnny Jenkins, Jr., Baxley, GA

Mr. James Johnson, Jr., Savannah, GA

Dorothy Jones, Savannah, GA

Ruth M. Jones, Beaufort, SC

Mrs. Ann Douse Lawrence, Savannah, GA

Betty Bragg Lee, Sylvania, GA

Mrs. Marie McMillan, Baxley,GA

Mr. Benjamin Milton, Savannah, GA

Mrs. Mary M. Mitchell, Savannah, GA

Mrs. Gracie Moore, Savannah, GA

Mr. Robert Keith Parker, Jesup, GA

Mrs. Dorothy Mariann Phillips, Pooler, GA

Annie Will Primous, Claxton, GA

Mrs. Sabrina McBride Rivers, Statesboro, GA

Mr. John P. Roszkowiak, Savannah, GA

Mr. Jeanie Paul Salmon, Jr., Savannah, GA

Mr. Isham Scott, Sr., Savannah, GA

Mr. Anthony Simmons, Savannah, GA

Mr. Elmore Smith, Statesboro, GA

Mr. Henry W. Smith, Savannah, GA

Mr. Frank Sutton, Sr., Savannah, GA

Mr. Louis Howard Sutton, Baltimore, MD

Mr. Anthony Darryle Tisdale, Savannah, GA

Juel Waters Turner, Millen, GA

Mr. James M. VonWaldner, Savannah, GA

Mrs. Mary A. Ward, Savannah, GA

Mrs. Sharlotte Wheeler, Vidalia, GA

Frances B. Wilson, Ellabell, GA

Savannah Mayor Edna Jackson has sent a letter to Chatham County Commission Chairman Al Scott about talks related to the merger agreement for the Savannah-Chatham police department.

Read the letter above or by clicking here.

Jail bookings from Jan. 15–16 for Savannah-Chatham County are now posted.

Click through this slideshow to view photos and information obtained from the Chatham County Sheriff’s Department.

All individuals posted have not been convicted of a crime and are innocent until proven guilty.

Find previous jail bookings at http://savannahnow.com/booked.

Investigators arrested a man for intentionally pulling a fire alarm at a southside Savannah motel Friday morning.

Fire investigators charged 27-year-old Juan Yanes Crisosto with a single count of knowingly transmitting a false report of a fire after they say he pulled an alarm at the Motel 6 at 201 Stephenson Ave. at about 11:50 a.m., said Mark Keller, Savannah Fire & Emergency Services spokesman.

Firefighters arrived at the motel in response to the alarm and determined there was no fire. Motel employees provided Savannah Fire investigators with a video from the area where the fire alarm is located, and Crisosto was identified as the person responsible for activating the alarm, Keller said.

After interviewing Crisosto in his room at the motel, Savannah Fire investigators placed him under arrest for the misdemeanor crime and transported him to the Chatham County jail, where he remained Friday afternoon under a $1,000 bond.

Westbound DeRenne Avenue at Skidaway Road and southbound Skidaway at DeRenne are closed to through traffic for an emergency repair of water and sewer lines.

The closure is expected to end at 5 p.m. Jan. 22.

Avail 1/14

A Killer Among Us (2012)

Tess Atkins, Tom Cavanagh, Boris Kodjoe, William DeVry, MacKenzie Porter, Anne Marie DeLuise

After her mother's murder, a determined teenager agrees to help the detective in charge of the case, and eventually uncovers shocking family secrets.

Amanda Knox: Murder on Trial in Italy (2011)

Hayden Panettiere, Vincent Riotta, Paolo Romio, Marcia Gay Harden, Amanda Fernando Stevens, Heather Cave

American college student Amanda Knox is accused of killing her roommate while studying abroad in Italy and undergoes a harrowing trial.

American Pickers: Collection

Hosts Frank Fritz and Mike Wolfe scour America to find antiques and collectibles to sell at their stores or add to their personal collections.

Ancient Aliens: Collection

This compelling series explores the possibility that aliens came to Earth in ancient times and influenced our scientific and cultural development.

Dance Moms: Collection

A group of young dancers' mothers spar with each other and no-nonsense teacher and studio owner Abby Lee Miller in this drama-filled reality show.

Duck Dynasty: Collection

Follow the ups and downs of life for the Robertsons, who created a business empire in the Louisiana bayou with their line of duck calls and decoys.

Gangsters: America’s Most Evil: Seasons 1 - 2

Investigate the lives of some of America's most notorious modern criminals, including Dana Bostic, Maria "Chata" Leon, Carlos Lehder and Lisette Lee.

Hoarders: Collection

This reality series reveals the lives of extreme hoarders, following their progress as they get help for their disorder and have their homes cleaned.

Ice Road Truckers: Collection

Hitch a ride with ice road truckers as they steer their big rigs across the frozen lakes of Canada's Northwest Territory to deliver much-needed cargo.

Jodi Arias: Dirty Little Secret (2013)

Tania Raymonde, Jesse Lee Soffer, David Zayas, Leah Pipes, Zane Holtz, Jeff Howard

Based on testimony from the Jodi Arias murder trial, this drama-from-life recounts how Arias's obsession with her ex-boyfriend led to murder.

Liz & Dick (2012)

Lindsay Lohan, Grant Bowler, Theresa Russell, David Hunt, Bruce Nozick, Tanya Franks

Follow the legendary romance of Elizabeth "Liz" Taylor and Richard "Dick" Burton through two marriages -- and two divorces.

Magic Beyond Words: The J.K. Rowling Story (2011)

Poppy Montgomery, Emily Holmes, Antonio Cupo, Janet Kidder, Madison Desjarlais, Andy Maton

Poppy Montgomery stars as Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling, dramatizing the rags-to-riches story of one of the most beloved writers in history.

Pawn Stars: Collection

The haggling never stops at the world-famous Las Vegas Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, which routinely gets vintage items and specialty pieces.

Secrets of Eden (2012)

John Stamos, Anna Gunn, Sonya Salomaa, Samantha Munro, Athena Karkanis, Lisa Ryder

A handsome small-town pastor with a wandering eye falls under suspicion when a seemingly perfect family is torn apart by an apparent murder-suicide.

Shipping Wars: Seasons 1 - 3

Six independent contractors, both veteran and rookie, tackle the lucrative shipping jobs too big, too unwieldy or too weird for ordinary carriers.

Swamp People: Collection

Follow groups of tough and resourceful Swampers as they hunt alligators during the 30-day season in the wild swamplands of Southern Louisiana.

The Big Rig Bounty Hunters: Season 1

Follow resourceful and hardened recovery agents who track down and reclaim lost, stolen or missing tractor-trailer rigs and their valuable cargo.

The Bling Ring (2011)

Austin Butler, Yin Chang, Tom Irwin, Sebastian Sozzi, Jennifer Grey, Wendy Makkena

Desperate to be popular, teens Zack and Natalie start breaking into the homes of celebrities and stealing a fortune in designer clothes and jewelry.

The First 48: Collection

The first 48 hours of a homicide investigation are the most important, as detectives gather forensic evidence and seek interviews to solve a case.

The Men Who Built America: Season 1

In the tumultuous years following the Civil War, five men built vast financial empires that transformed American business, technology and politics.

The Murder of Princess Diana (2007)

Jennifer Morrison, Grégori Derangère, Kevin McNally, Francois Marthouret, Jessica Turner, Robert Davide

Rachel, an American journalist in Paris, witnesses Princess Diana's fatal accident and comes to believe that someone plotted to murder the princess.

The Pregnancy Project (2012)

Alexa PenaVega, Walter Perez, Sarah Smyth, Sarah Strange, Lacy J Mailey, Michael Mando

For a class project on stereotyping, a high school senior pretends to be pregnant and gets attention not only from her peers but her entire community.

Vietnam in HD

Using uncensored archival footage -- much of it shot by soldiers -- this gripping series profiles 13 men and women who survived the Vietnam War.

Wahlburgers: Season 1

Get up close and personal with Boston's well-known family, the Wahlbergs, as they manage a family-run burger restaurant.

William & Kate (2011)

Camilla Luddington, Nico Evers-Swindell, Samantha Whittaker, Jonathan Patrick Moore, Richard Reid, Ben Cross

The real-life fairytale romance between Britain's Prince William and his schoolmate, Kate Middleton, is intimately recounted in this dramatic biopic.

Avail 1/17

Ribbit (2014)

Sean Astin, Tim Curry, Russell Peters, Cherami Leigh, Elza Irdalynna, Amelia Henderson

While on a journey to find himself, a misfit frog becomes convinced he's a human prince in need of a kiss from a princess to become his true self.

Avail 1/18

Patton Oswalt: Tragedy Plus Comedy Equals Time (2014)

Acerbic stand-up comic Patton Oswalt delivers a set that includes bits on Florida, performing in Vegas, daddy-daughter outings and much more.

Avail 1/20

Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures: Season 2

Teenage Pac and his loyal crew face the ups and downs of adolescence while protecting Pac-World from a ghostly army led by the evil Betrayus.

Avail 1/21

Barefoot (2014)

Evan Rachel Wood, Scott Speedman, Treat Williams, Kate Burton, J.K. Simmons, J. Omar Castro

Asked to treat a young psychiatric patient who's been living in utter isolation, a doctor from a wealthy family forms an unusual bond with her.

Avail 1/22

Stonehearst Asylum (2014)

Kate Beckinsale, Michael Caine, Brendan Gleeson, Ben Kingsley, David Thewlis, Jason Flemyng

In 1899, a young doctor arrives at an asylum for an apprenticeship and becomes suspicious of his mentor's methods while falling for a female patient.

Avail 1/23

Iliza Shlesinger: Freezing Hot (2014) - Netflix Original

Smart and brazen comedian Iliza Shlesinger shares her unflinchingly honest observations on the differences between men and women. Filled with hashtag-able catch phrases, this is a laugh-out-loud revelation exposing some of women’s best kept - and ugliest - secrets, including truths a

Drug agents say they arrested a man in Savannah Friday morning after they and other police recovered drugs, weapons and various items linked to multiple property crimes.

Early Friday, members of the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team, Savannah-Chatham police, state probation, the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. marshals and the ATF searched a residence in the 1100 Block of Southeast 36th Street. Officers found marijuana, marijuana plants, items commonly used to manufacture and distribute marijuana and four firearms, said Gene Harley, CNT spokesman.

Some of the firearms were found with altered serial numbers, Harley said.

Also recovered were items connected to various burglaries and entering autos reported within the metro police department’s Central, Southside and Islands precincts, Harley said.

CNT arrested 20-year-old Marques Deshaun Johnson. Johnson was charged with multiple felonies, including manufacturing marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, four counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm with an altered serial number.

Additional charges and arrests are expected, Harley said.

Metro police detectives are conducting independent investigations into the stolen items recovered during the search warrant.

Local, state and federal law enforcement officers arrested 14 people during a warrant sweep Friday morning in Chatham County.

Seventeen warrants were executed, said Gena Bilbo, spokeswoman for the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office. Other agencies participating in the sweep included the U.S. Marshals Service, the ATF, the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team and the Superior Court probation office.

Bilbo said warrants executed included one Superior Court indictment, eight Superior Court probation violations — three of them for sex offender charges, five State Court probation violations and three felony warrants for subjects wanted by metro police.

Deputies were able to utilize the MC-75 handheld Rapid ID machine to identify Charles C. Johnson, who was wanted on a Superior Court probation warrant, Bilbo said. His identification was confirmed, and it was also found that he was wanted on three felony warrants by Savannah-Chatham police, she said. There were also non-warrant arrests made.

A search of a residence in the 1000 Block of SE 36th street by CCSO deputies turned up several weapons. Marques Johnson, a man residing at the address, was charged with possession of firearms (SKS rifle, bolt action rifle, sawed-off shotgun) as well as marijuana.

Arrested in the sweep, according to the sheriff’s office:

• Sylvester Waldburg Jr.

• Reginald Dwayne Powell

• Tisheen Ronald Bragg Young

• Michael Lee Pike

• Michael Shropshire

• Patricia Marie Anderson

• Gladys Lucille Jordan

• Terry Johnson

• Brian Alan Sapp

• Joseph Martin Austin

• John Preston Aiken Jr.

• Daniel Armando Guiterrez

• Michael S. Proman

• Michael Anthony Simpson

Police on Friday said violent crime rose in Savannah and unincorporated Chatham County in 2014. Year-end statistics indicate the 8.8 percent increase in violent crime from 2013 was driven by shootings and robberies.

Property crimes, meanwhile, rose less than 1 percent. Total crime in the Savannah-Chatham police department’s jurisdiction in 2014 was up 1.3 percent.

Metro Police Chief Joseph Lumpkin used the statistics to renew a call for predictive and community policing as well as a collaboration between the department and the public.

“The growing violence in our community is unacceptable,” Lumpkin said. “Robberies are being committed by a relatively small number of suspects, and we are actively working to identify the suspects and charge them. More first-time robbers will attempt to take their place, but our goal will be to stop them as well.”

Homicides increased by two over 2013 and aggravated assaults with guns increased by 35 incidents. Last year, metro police reported 32 homicides and 198 shootings. Increases in thefts drove property crimes.

“Nearly all of the shootings are among people who know one another and choose firearms to settle conflicts ranging from drugs to domestic issues,” Lumpkin said. “We need better intelligence to foresee these seemingly spontaneous ‘arguments’ and most of that will have to come from the public. I encourage anyone aware of an escalating issue to call us, or CrimeStoppers, so we can intervene. That outcome is much better than to lose a family member or friend to violence.

“We must find a way to deal with the increased number of weapons in the hands of people who should not have them and collaborate with the citizenry to identify suspects and bring them to justice. This takes more than just a police department. It also involves neighbors, courts, service agencies and every member of this community.”

Among property crimes, the numbers reflect significant decreases in burglaries, while thefts have increased. Shoplifting reports, which is a function of commercial reporting, has gone up 29.1 percent in the last two years. Commercial and residential robberies are more concerning to most of the public and police, said department spokesman Julian Miller.

Police say 2013 was one of the lowest violent crime years, and 2013 and 2012 were two of the lowest property crime years in decades.

To see the complete report, go to SCMPD.org.

The cause of a Friday morning fire at a vacant structure on West 36th Street is under investigation.

Firefighters were called to the 300 block of West 36th at 8 a.m. The first units to arrive at the two story vacant building encountered smoke coming from the back of the structure and its roof, said Mark Keller, Savannah Fire & Emergency Services spokesman.

Firefighters made entry and found two people inside. The two people who were inside the building, however, ran outside then fled, Keller said. Firefighters continued searching the building, but no one else was found.

The building had been boarded up, but, based on items found inside, it appeared people had been staying there at different times, Keller said.

The fire was extinguished quickly, and the structure suffered moderate damage on both floors. No injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, but Keller said investigators believe it started outside then spread into the walls.

Anyone with information is asked to call Savannah Fire’s investigators at 912-644-5958 or the anonymous CrimeStoppers service at 912-234-2020.