COLUMBUS County's costs continue to rise for probe of highway shootings

The county has received state and federal help.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- Overtime and equipment for a task force investigating a series of highway shootings have cost Franklin County more than $200,000 and will continue to climb until there's a break in the case.
"There's nothing you can do about it but bear the costs when the public safety is at stake," county Commissioner Dewey Stokes said. "We feel the same frustration the public feels. We'd like to have solved this thing yesterday."
Figures were not immediately available for the investigation costs to Columbus, the state and federal government, whose law enforcement agencies are participating.
Some of those officers have volunteered their time, Franklin County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Steve Martin said Sunday.
"No cost is too much," he said. "We have an obligation to get the person or persons responsible for this, and that's expensive. Our funding sources are very aware of that. We will make the decision on what we need to do that."
Adjusting shifts
Columbus police have said they are trying to control overtime costs by adjusting the shifts of up to 50 police officers.
Stokes said he's grateful for the help.
"The state has helped, the feds. Everyone has helped with the costs. ODOT paid to put up those cameras [in the I-270 median] and that helped considerably," Stokes said Saturday.
The cameras cost $1,400 apiece, and can be moved for other needs, ODOT spokeswoman Michelle May said. She would not provide the number or locations of the cameras because that would compromise the investigation, she said.
Businesses have donated equipment, money, food and water for investigators at the Emergency Operations Center, Martin said.
Telephone tips
Investigators have received more than 2,500 telephone tips from the public as of Sunday. The reward for evidence leading to an indictment is at $40,000.
However, some people with actual emergencies have called the nonemergency tip line when they should have dialed 911, Martin said Sunday.
Authorities have linked 18 of the shootings on or near a stretch of Interstate 270, including one that killed a 62-year-old woman in November. Most occurred within the past two months.
Seven of the shots, including the only fatal one and two fired into homes, came from the same gun. The others are considered connected by location and other circumstances, investigators have said.