Disorderly Conduct and Resisting Arrest were alleged in an arrest by Laurens City Police. Laurens Lt. David Brewer issued tickets on 18-year-old Heather Brooke Campell of 2221 Indian Mound Road, Laurens. Lt. Brewer issued tickets at 5:56 yesterday afternoon on East Main Street, charging Ms. Campbell with Disorderly Conduct and Resisting Arrest. Heather Brooke Campbell… Read More »
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Disorderly Conduct & Resisting Arrest
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Thinks She Broke Her Hand, Hitting Boyfriend in Face
Corporal Jimmy Johnson was dispatched to a location on Highway 49 outside Laurens at 10:00 yesterday morning on a domestic assault report. He met a Spartanburg woman who said she and her boyfriend had argued over returning a rental car that was due back at 3:00 yesterday afternoon. She said that during the altercation they began to hit each other. She said she struck her boyfriend in the mouth with her hand, and complained she thought it might be broken. EMS came to the scene but indicated they couldn’t tell if the hand was broken without an x-ray. The boyfriend had left, and Corporal Johnson indicated he was unable to make contact by phone. Meanwhile, his mother arrived at the location. The boyfriend called her and the officer was then able to talk with him. He indicated his lip was split from being struck by the girlfriend’s fist, but he didn’t want to press charges. The officer was going to consult with a judge about possible charges.
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Disorderly Yesterday + Assault Alleged from July
Laurens City Police yesterday charged 23-year-old Lotoya Catanelous Craig of 218 Spring Street #165, Laurens with Assault and Battery 3rd Degree. Officer Thibodeau states that an investigation of Officer Kanipe indicates that on July 14, 2014 Latoya Craig struck a victim in the face during a physical altercation at 218 Spring Street. Lt. Martin arrested Ms. Craig yesterday on a Public Disorderly Conduct charge, issuing a ticket to that effect at 5:40 yesterday afternoon at 218 Spring Street. Latoya Craig was being held overnight in the Johnson Detention Center, pending a bond hearing today.
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Multiple Charges from Wreck Last December
The Sheriff’s Office yesterday charged a man with Malicious Damage from an incident last year on December 3rd. 40-year-old Danny Orlando Wharton 2771 Brockman-McClimon Road, Greer was charged with Malicious Damage for allegedly side-swiping a 2000 Honda, doing $2,000 damage.
The Highway Patrol also had charges for Mr. Wharton. Warrants from the Patrol allege Danny Wharton had an Open Container of Beer or Wine and Left the Scene of an Accident after striking an unattended vehicle on December 3rd, 2014. A $5,000 cash or surety bond was set on the Laurens County Malicious Damage charge, while bonds on the Highway Patrol charge ranged from 4237 to $262.
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DHEC Charges Allege Prescription Violations
The Highway Patrol arrested a Simpsonville man yesterday and delivered him to the Johnson Detention Center. There, 60-year-old John Andrew Stafford of 105 Hudders Creek Way, Simpsonville was served with two warrants from D-HEC, charging Unlawful Attempts to Acquire Prescription Drugs, 2nd Offense. He’s accused of withholding information from a practitioner to obtain drugs from multiple practitioners on November 6th and on November 13th. John Andrew Stafford was being held overnight in the Johnson Detention Center, pending a bond hearing.
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SLED Charges Local with Domestic Violence
The State Law Enforcement Division yesterday arrested a Laurens area resident on a Domestic Violence charge from an alleged assault on his wife last month. 45-year-old Donald Orrin Evans of 481 Camp Ground Road, Laurens was charged with Domestic Violence 2nd Degree. A warrant from SLED states that on November 27th in Laurens County Mr. Evans mentally and physically abused the victim by assaulting her with his hands, biting her on her right arm and threw her on the bed, pinning her down with his knees. Don Evans was being held in the Laurens County Detention Center overnight, pending a bond hearing at 4:00 this afternoon.
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Clinton Garbage Collection Schedules to Change
Residents of the city of Clinton will soon see changes in the city’s garbage collection schedule. At the November meeting of Clinton City Council, City Manager Frank Stovall introduced the idea of changes to the schedules for the Sanitation Division of the Department of Public Works. At Monday night’s meeting he formally presented the idea to council and recommended that council approve the new schedules.
Stovall explained that currently routes are run five days per week by the city’s garbage truck, 2 grapple trucks to pick up debris and a vacuum truck to collect leaves during the fall and winter and grass clippings during the spring and summer. Operating on that schedule, he said, allows no down time so that the vehicles can undergo preventative maintenance. He proposed changes that will allow for that maintenance and free up employees for other duties.
Those changes include going from a 5 days per week schedule to a 4 days per week schedule for garbage pickup as well as debris pick up and altering the schedule for vacuum truck to every other week except during leaf season (mid October to mid February).
The change will not affect the frequency of garbage collection but probably will change the day of service for many customers. Instead of having five collection routes there will be four with garbage being collected on one day and debris collected the next.
The idea behind the alternating types of service is that when the garbage truck collects your household garbage they can long the presence of yard debris so that the grapple truck is aware of it when they make their pass the next day.
After much discussion council eventually voted to approve the changes as recommended.
The new schedules will be implemented on January 4th, 2016. Within a few days from now the schedules will be posted on the city’s web site: www.cityofclintonsc.com
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Councilman Jones Proposes EMS Qualifications
In another controversial proposal, Councilman Jones requested that the county prepare and distribute a request for proposal qualifications to provide ambulance providers to participate in the county EMS program. At least that was printed in the agenda, but the proposal met with a bit of confusion on the part of council as to just what Jones was implying by the request. Council Member Diane Anderson requested the vote be amended to have its purpose be to have a committee meeting to discuss ways of making the county EMS even more efficient.
That vote was approved with Chairman Wood objecting, and when it passed Wood said that this will be a very lengthy process and when a committee meeting is held it would be chaired by Anderson and that it would consist of council members and county EMS officials.
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County Council Concerned About Refugees
Concerns about terrorism and the relocation of Syrian refugees came home to roost in Laurens County at last night’s county council meeting. Councilman Stuart Jones presented resolution 2015-31 for approval, which was called “A Resolution Declaring Laurens County Council’s Opposition To The Relocation Of Refugees From The United States Refugee Resettlement Program In Laurens County, And The Rejection Of State Funds To Assist In The Program.”
Councilman David Pitts second the resolution, and it passed 4 to 3 with Council members, Anderson, McDaniel, and Nash voting no.
During the public comment time, the Rev. Herb Codington of Bethany Presbyterian Church of Clinton voiced his displeasure with the vote. His daughter-in-law also objected, reading a lengthy Bible passage regarding refugees.
In comments, all the members that voted for the resolution expressed mixed emotions. While stating they hold to Christian beliefs, it was their job as elected government officials to respond to the overwhelming requests from their constituents to do their job in providing for their safety and to be sure that those coming in from another country were here legally and properly vetted.
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Bleach Was Weapon Allegedly Used
Clinton Public Safety and EMS were dispatched to Clinton Manor at 2:50 yesterday afternoon, where a man indicated his girlfriend had been upset with him for not coming in the previous night. He said when he came in yesterday to pick up his clothing she threw bleach on his clothing, then on him. Officer Mercer noted the man did not want to press charges. EMS treated him at the scene and transported him to the hospital for further evaluation.
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Arrest in Cross Hill Grand Larceny
The Sheriff’s Office yesterday arrested a man in connection with a theft this past October. 44-year-old William Robert “Bobby” Wilson of 51 Carl Gray Road, Iva was charged with Grand Larceny. In a warrant showing an address for the subject on Watts Bridge Road, Cross Hill, Lt. Robert Plaxico states that on October 26, 2015 Wilson took a gun, money, a computer and tools with intent to deprive the victim of the property, valued at $3,000. $3,000 was also the amount set for a cash or surety bond. William Robert Wilson remained in the Johnson Detention Center this morning.
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More Charges for Guadalupe
Yesterday we reported on the arrest of 47-year-old Ephraim Guadalupe of 503 Poole Town Road, Laurens, He was placed in the Johnson Detention Center on charges of Safecracking, Larceny and Criminal Conspiracy for an alleged theft from the Corner Mart on West Main in Laurens on Monday. We noted he was arrested at or near the intersection of Green Street and East Farley Avenue at 11:45 Wednesday night, charged with a Driving without a South Carolina Driver’s License. Later yesterday, Laurens Police added a warrant also charging him with Failure to Stop for a Blue Light. Officer Jonathan Scogin states the Investigation of Officer Billy Sellers indicates that Mr. Guadelupe failed to stop for the officer while driving a 2005 Ford Pickup, and that Guadelupe was operating a pickup when Officer Sellers initiated the traffic stop on Sullivan Street near Green Street in Laurens late Wednesday night.
During arraignment yesterday, cash or surety bonds were set on all five charges totaling $52,237. Ephraim Guadelupe remained in the Johnson Detention Center this morning.
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Economic Development Actions
Laurens County Council acted on several economic development matters this week. Council held a Public Hearing Tuesday night then conducted a 3rd vote to give final approval for amending an existing agreement to allow expansion of a Multi-County Park involving Laurens and Greenville Counties, enlarging the boundaries of the park to include property of Cobb-Vantress, Inc. which was previously known as “Project Yak.” This provides certain infrastructure credits for the facility.
Another third and final vote was given on another industrial project that a hearing was held on last month. This authorizes execution and delivery of a fee-in-lieu-of-tax agreement for the company Brawo U.S., Incorporated.
County Council this week gave 2nd approval to incentives for ‘Project Container,” and gave 1st reading approval on two projects. One is for acquisition and subsequent transfer of property for an economic development project in Clinton. It would authorize transfer of about 18 acres for “Project Interstate” and further request de-annexation of that property from the City Limits, along with subsequent transfer of property to the Clinton Economic Development Corporation for further development of an industrial site. The second measure getting 1st reading approval is authorizing transfer of three fee-in-lieu agreement between the county and Emitec.
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Arrest in Theft from Cars
Laurens County deputies yesterday continued their investigation of suspicious behavior in a parking lot at 970 Old Airport Road early Wednesday night. A man had fled toward the CB&I plant after a witness had reported spotting him around cars in a parking lot. After reviewing video, officers determined a suspect. Then at 6:12 last evening officers received a report the suspect was again seen in the parking lot. A 17-year-old Laurens male was apprehended by the Sheriff’s Office and placed in the Johnson Detention Center. He was reportedly being held for charges expected to include Theft from an auto for the alleged theft of $280 in tools yesterday, and attempted theft from Wednesday evening.
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Domestic Violence from Saturday Incident
Laurens City Police yesterday arrested a man from a domestic assault last Saturday. 38-year-old Shatner Simon “Shat” Dial of Unit 6 at 3940 Springdale Drive, Clinton was charged with Domestic Violence 2nd Degree. A warrant showing a Laurens address on Walker Avenue states that Shatner Dail repeatedly struck the victim in her face, arms and legs Saturday, causing severe swelling and bruising. Officer Doug Jones further stated that the victim and defendant share minor children together, who were in the next room Saturday when the assault occurred in an apartment on Garlington Street. Shatner Simon “Shat” Dial was being held overnight in the Johnson Detention Center, pending a bond hearing today.
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Officer Dismissed
Laurens Police Chief Sonny Ledda yesterday dismissed one of two Captains from the Department, following the officer’s arrest by the State Law Enforcement Division. 45-year-old Donald Orrin “Don” Evans of Camp Ground Road, Laurens was charged with Domestic Violence 2nd Degree when arrested by SLED Tuesday, citing an alleged assault on his wife November 27th. … Read More »
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Kidnapping Suspect to Detention Center on 17th Birthday
Clinton Public Safety yesterday delivered Phillip Anthony Copeland of 97 Palmetto Street, Clinton to the Johnson Detention Center, on his 17th birthday. Copeland is charged with Kidnapping and with Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature from an alleged incident back in July. Public Safety Officer Metz states that the defendant committed the crime of Kidnapping on July 22nd, 2015 by holding a juvenile victim against her will, preventing her from fleeing the scene at an address on Cedar Street in Clinton. Copeland is further accused of placing a knife to the throat of the victim on that date last July, thus showing the ability to cause bodily injury, and of verbally threatening the victim while the knife was to her throat. Copeland was being held in the Johnson Detention Center this morning.
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Reasons for Having an S.R.O. In School
The role of School Resource Officers was discussed yesterday when Laurens Assistant Police Chief Chrissie Cofield addressed the Laurens Rotary Club. Assistant District 55 Superintendent Dr. George Ward introduced Major Cofield to Rotarians. He cited Superintendent Billy Strickland’s emphasis on putting an S.R.O. in every school, not just at the middle and high school levels, as is the case in many school districts. Assistant Chief Cofield said enforcement of school rules like cell phone use is not an S.R.O’s job. She said there are two basic responsibilities of an S.R.O. They are to ensure safety of students, teachers and others in schools and to build a bridge between students and police. Said that another S.R.O. has just been hired for E.B. Morse Elementary, after which all schools in the City will have one on duty. She said in addition to the law enforcement officer in the school, the marked police car out front provides an extra layer of protection. She noted that folks looking to cause harm want a “soft target,” and tend to avoid areas with an obvious police presence.
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Wednesday Night Fatal Wreck Discovered Thursday
A fatal wreck in Laurens County Wednesday night was apparently not discovered until yesterday afternoon. Laurens County Coroner Nick Nichols identified the victim as 49-year-old Gail Marie Glymph of 75 Tidmarsh Drive, Whitmire. Nichols said Ms. Glymph was found deceased in her 1999 Chevy S-10 pickup, which had run off Highway 72 and overturned in the water of Duncan Creek at 8:30 Wednesday night.
Lance Corporal Tony Keller of the Highway Patrol said the deceased was driving her pickup eastward on Highway 72 eleven miles east of Clinton when it ran off the right side of the road, struck a guard rail and the back side of a bridge railing, then went down an embankment.
The Whitmire Rescue Squad reportedly arrived and cut her from the truck, where she was found at least partially in the water with her seat belt on.
Coroner Nichols said an autopsy is to be conducted today to determine the cause of death.
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Truck Break-In Alleged
A man reportedly spotted in a parking lot on Old Airport Road, Laurens was charged Friday with Break-In to an Automobile. 17-year-old Samuel William Harman of 56 Angel Court, Laurens was initially charged with Disorderly Conduct and a Tobacco Violation when arrested Thursday night. In the Auto Break-In warrant, Sheriff’s Sgt. Carter states that on December 9th Harmon broke into or attempted to break into a 2006 Silver 4-door Ford F-250 at 970 Old Airport Road with intent to steal. Mr. Harman was released Friday on personal recognizance bonds totaling $2,875.00
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