Columbia County Sheriff’s Office was called to the scene of an altercation between two companies on a job site on Monday, July 18.
According to the report, Benjamin Crawford, owner of C & H Paving, was upset after not getting paid for asphalt he and his crew had put down at a new storage facility parking lot on 5060 High Meadows Drive.
According to the report, Crawford and his crew began to dig up the parking lot in the area. Nicholas Montgomery, C & H Paving tractor operator, and the rest of his crew with shovels were told by Crawford, “Do not stop digging, this asphalt belongs to me, we are digging the whole parking lot up, and we are taking it with us.”
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Robert Clifton, CEO of Clifton Construction, told the workers to stop tearing up the parking lot.
Once the Columbia County deputy arrived on scene, he told everyone to stop digging, but Crawford yelled over him stating, “This is my product, my asphalt, and I will tear the whole damn parking lot up! It belongs to me; they did not pay me, and I am taking it with me today!” the report said.
There was also a physical altercation prior to the deputy arriving according to the report. Steve Clifton, owner of Clifton Construction, Robert Clifton and Crawford had minor scratches from the altercation.
Robert Clifton said that Steve Clifton stepped in front of the tractor’s bucket to stop them from digging, but they started digging under Steve Clifton’s feet and lifted him off the ground about four feet. Robert Clifton jumped into the tractor, attempting to turn it off.
Montgomery yelled at him to get out, neither of them touched each other. Robert Clifton noticed Crawford grabbing Steve Clifton, so he jumped down and pushed him off. The rest of Crawford’s crew then started trying to break them up.
Crawford said he was told by Clifton they could not pay him because the work needs to be corrected. C & H Paving fixed one section, but still need to fix at least two more areas.
According to the report, a corner in the back and a section in the middle that is holding water was still needed to be fixed.
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Clifton said that Clifton Construction does not have a contract with C & H Paving but has one with Digging Dirt. Clifton said C & H Paving did correct one section, but a back corner and a place in the front parking lot still needs to be fixed.
The property owner, Denise Whitmore, was unaware of the incident, and she received a call from Crawford stating he placed a lien on her business because he had not been paid. Whitmore says she explained to Crawford to send an invoice, but he did not.
“Clifton Construction requested we trespass Benjamin and all employees of C & H Paving from the site, and she agreed that would be best. Deputy Marchant explained this to Benjamin and the crew, they all understood if they come back to the site they could be charged with trespassing,” the report said.
Deputies concluded by stating to all parties that the incident is a civil matter and told Crawford not to dig or remove any more asphalt or he would be charged.
Chris Rickerson is a staff reporter covering Columbia County government and general assignment topics for The Augusta Press. Reach him at chris@theaugustapress.com.
