(Updated with correction to previous prison sentence.)
Columbia County authorities were continuing their search for a wanted felon Saturday night in the West Lake community of Martinez.
Authorities had set up a perimeter and used a helicopter in hopes of tracking down suspect Richard Dalheimer, who is wanted in both Richmond and Columbia counties for a large series of brazen auto thefts.
“We will continue to have law enforcement in the area through the night,” a 7 p.m. sheriff’s post said on Facebook.
Dahlheimer was reportedly spotted in Richmond County earlier in the day and led authorities on a chase into Columbia County, possibly in a burgundy Nissan Sentra. He then abandoned the car and fled on foot into the West Lake subdivision, authorities said.
Richard Dahlheimer is wanted for questioning in multiple auto thefts that occurred at United Auto Sales on Washington Road in Augusta between Feb. 11-13. In that case, someone messed with the surveillance camera, broke into the business and took keys to seven vehicles, which were then taken from the lot.
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On Feb. 2, a Columbia County deputy tracked Dalheimer to Pumpkin Center and chased him into the city limits of Harlem where they lost sight of the man when he went over railroad tracks. The stolen Nissan Rogue he was driving was found abandoned behind Mount Tabor Baptist Church Cemetery.
Dahlheimer, 42, is a felon who has been in and out of prison much of his life, with his most recent prison stay ending last October. That sentence for arson, theft and obstruction was supposed to be for 4 years but it ended after 16 months. In that 2018 case, he set fire to an unoccupied home and then tried to hide from Richmond County deputies underneath the house once it was extinguished, authorities said.
According to a 2018 report, deputies surrounded a Barton Chapel Road home to block Dahlheimer from escaping from under the home. He refused orders to come out. Before long, the speedy suspect climbed through a hole near the basement and sped past a deputy. But Dahlheimer was soon met with a shock from a Taser and brought to the ground and arrested.
The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office asked that anyone who sees anything suspicious to call call 911 or 706-541-2800 immediately.
Greg Rickabaugh is the Jail Report contributor for The Augusta Press. Reach him at greg.rickabaugh@theaugustapress.com
