At 2:07 PM Saturday, Deputy Richey of the sheriffs office was dispatched to a Burton Drive Waterloo residence in reference to a stolen vehicle. Upon arrival, the complainant stated that when he woke up Saturday around 1pm, he discovered his dark blue 1993 Ford F-150 was missing from his front yard. He stated he did not lock the doors and the keys were in the ignition. The truck was entered into ncic as stolen.

Sunday at 2:05 am Deputy Hunter of the Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a Hostetler Ln Cross Hill residence concerning a attempted break in. The complainant stated that he was sleeping when he woke to the sound of his dog barking. He went into the living room and observed a subject trying to get into a window. He then went outside with a gun and heard what he believed to be the subject jumping a fence. The complainant went to the window and found several items from inside his vehicle laying on the ground. He then went to his car and discovered that it had been gone through and his browning buckmark pistol had been stolen. Next to his car was a battery powered dirt bike that he had never seen before. The dirt bike was taken to the impound lot. Deputy Richey responded to a Puckett Ferry Rd. Cross Hill residence later that morning in reference to a stolen red and white Razor dirt bike missing from a garage. After finding out about the bike being found at the previous residence and placed in the impound lot, the owner was notified of the location of his dirt bike.

22 year old Octavious Akeem Toland of 202 Markswood Drive Spartanburg was booked Saturday, May 14^th   by the Clinton Department of Public Safety into the Johnson Detention Center charged with ill treatment of animals, unlawful carry of a pistol, and sale or delivery of pistol. Warrants state that on Saturday Toland did knowingly carry a handgun, a Smith and Wesson .32 revolver, about his person without authority to do so. The offense occurred on East Ferguson Street within the city limits of Clinton. A further warrant states Toland did knowingly posses a stolen handgun.

He remains in the Johnson Detention Center on $677.50 bond for ill treatment of animals,  $5k bond for unlawful carry and $3k bond for sale or delivery of a pistol.

25 year old Johnnie Demario Thompson of 1150 Bull Hill Rd. Gray Court was booked into the Johnson Detention Center Sunday charged with unlawful carry of a pistol.

The warrant states that the defendant did commit the crime of unlawful carrying of a pistol by possessing a handgun in an unlawful manner inside of his vehicle, the offense occurring on Church Street in the city limits of Laurens. Thompson remains in the Johnson Detention Center on $2k bond.

On Friday at 12:02pm, Sgt. Prather of the Clinton Department of Public safety was on North Broad Street and Oakland Street in Clinton when he observed a subject operating a motor vehicle with prior knowledge that the subject’s license had been suspended.  Before making a traffic stop, the officer checked with dispatch to make sure the license was still suspended. Upon confirmation, the officer stopped the vehicle in the parking lot of Wilson’s Curb Market and advised the subject to stay in the vehicle. The subject told the officer that his license was not suspended and he had been stopped a few days before and was clear. The subject was then placed under arrest for driving under suspension. Sgt. Wicker arrived on scene to address the passenger of the vehicle. As Sgt. Prather walked the subject to the rear of the vehicle a small bag of white powder fell out of his shorts leg. The subject stated it was not his and he didn’t know where it came from. The passenger was searched and a bag of marijuana was found in his pocket and he was placed under arrest for possession of marijuana. Upon search of the vehicle, officers found three round yellow pills and one round white pill. A camo bag that contained what appeared to be meth and aluminum foil and digital scales were found in the back seat. Both men denied ownership of the bag.

39 year old Joseph Allen Ewell of 675 Lake Rd. Clinton was booked into the Johnson Detention Center Friday, charged with DUS, 2 counts schedule 1 drug possession, and 1 count less than one gram of meth. Warrants state that on may 13^th, he did have in his possession less than one gram of methamphetamine the offence occurring on west main street in the city of Clinton, had in his possession a pill identified as acetaminophen and codeine without authority to do so, Had in his possession three small round yellow pills identified as a schedule IV controlled substance without authority to do so. A PR bond was set for dus and $20k bond on the two drug charges. Ewell remains in the Johnson Detention Center.

His passenger, Daniel Allen Owens, 31 of 708 Charlottes Rd. Clinton was booked Friday May 13^th charged with 1 count possession of less than one gram meth, possesion of 1 oz or less of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and open container.  A warrant states that on May 13^th Owens did have in his possession less than one gram of methamphetamine with the offence occurring on west main in Clinton and had prior conviction for possession of meth. A second warrant states he did have in his possession less than 28 grams of marijuana and had a previous arrest for the same offense. A PR bond of $628.00 was set on the  paraphernalia charge, $262.00 on the open container charge and bond was denied on the other charges. Owens remains in the Johnson Detention Center

On Friday at 10:52 pm Deputies Byrd and Messer of the Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to South Main Street in Joanna in reference to a female driver being unconscious in the drivers seat of a car. The deputies tried several times to wake the female subject without success. EMS was notified and en route to the scene. Sgt. Moye arrived on scene and tried to make contact with the subject to no avail. Clinton Department of Public Safety was contacted as they had tools to gain access to the inside of the vehicle. Sgt Harris then arrived from Clinton and used tools to gain entry. EMS began treating the subject. EMS initially thought the subject may have overdosed and took the subject to the hospital accompanied bt Sgt. Moye. Deputies Byrd and Messer then began taking inventory of the vehicle and found a clear bag containing what appeared to be marijuana in the subject’s purse. They then found a large plastic bag wrapped in a t shirt in the back left corner of the trunk that appeared to be marijuana. Three other small bags of marijuana were also found in the t shirt. Sgt. Moye recovered 9 yellow xanax pills from the subject at the hospital as the subject allegedly tried to consume the narcotics.

40 year old Candice Suber Bruce listed with addresses of 285 Gary St. Whitmire and  220 Wilson Rd. Newberry was booked into the Johnson Detention Center Saturday charged with distribution, sell or manufacture of controlled substance, 2 counts possesion of schedule 1 controlled substance. Warrants state that on may 13^th she did within one half mile of Woodson Elementary School posses 10 oz of marijuana, did knowingly posses 10 oz of marijuana and intentionally posses 9 xanax pills. Bruce remains in the Johnson Detention Center on a $30k bond. Her 2016 Dodge Challenger was towed and placed into evidence with the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Chastain, Coronor Nichols, pastors, lay people, community leaders and other concerned citizens were present Saturday Morning at a breakfast hosted by Dr. Bryant Cheeks and the Springfield Baptist Church of Laurens. The guest speaker was State Senator Karl B. Allen of Greenville. Senator Allen stated it was midnight in South Carolina when Senator Clementa Pinckney was killed, but out of that midnight came the dawn. Senator Allen reflected on speaking with Senator Paul Thurmond, the son of former segregationist and long serving  U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond and he stood up and said “I think the time is right to remove the Confederate flag and put it in a museum”.

He said “it’s midnight in S.C. now and only you can change it”.

Senator Allen encouraged pastors to go back to their local churches and encourage members to get out and vote. He stated “Tell them to get out and vote for the candidates that can do or have done the best job because if you don’t and the wrong person gets in office you’re going to hate it and it will be too late then”. He stated that with no contested democratic races in Laurens County  if you vote Republican now, you can still vote Democratic in November.

A large crowd was on hand at Laurens District High School Sunday afternoon to attend a reception in honor of outgoing District 55 Superintendent Dr. Billy Strickland.  Students, former students, parents, elected officials including 3rd District Congressman Jeff Duncan, and superintendents from several surrounding school districts were on hand to congratulate Dr. Strickland on his 40 plus year education career.

Dr. Strickland told WLBG that he may not have always done everything right but that he always tried to.  “If I did anything to hurt anyone, I certainly didn’t do it on purpose” he said.

He said that incoming Dr. Stephen Peters is to officially take over on July 1st but Dr. Peters has been in the district several times and that trend will continue as he prepares himself to assume his duties.  Dr. Strickland said that he would do everything in his power to ensure that there was a smooth transition.

As to his future, Dr. Strickland said “it’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks”.   He said that after 40 years in education he’d find it nearly impossible to just walk away completely.  “Don’t be surprised if you learn that I’ve found something to do involving education.”

The first clue in the WLBG.COM Monday Madness Scavenger Hunt has been released on air.
The clue is:
What was President Taft’s White House pet?

Once you’ve found the answer on WLBG.COM it will lead you to the next clue. The final clue will have a registration form to fill out and submit. The form submissions are time stamped and the first person to submit their form will win the prize valued at $50 from Carolina Help Desk and WLBG.COM GOOD LUCK IN YOUR SEARCH!

A report of a burglary at a Joanna residence dispatched a deputy at 9:27 last night. A woman said her brother had kicked open her door and entered her residence without her permission. She said he went into her bedroom and threw an X-box to the floor, breaking it and that he had an axe which he used to smash a mirror on her bedroom wall. Deputy Van Pelt noted he saw no evidence of forced entry, but did observe pieces of an x-box on the floor and a cracked mirror on the bedroom wall. The woman reportedly stated her mother was with her brother during the visit, but did not cause damage to the residence or its contents. The officer was going to consult with a judge regarding the report.

A man apparently wanted in Alabama was arrested by the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office yesterday. 45-year-old John Zachary Cline of 197 Willis Street, Fountain Inn was charged with Fugitive from Justice. Officer Williard states that information laid before him yesterday indicates that John Zachary Cline is a fugitive from justice from the State of Alabama where he is charged with Arson 2nd Degree, a crime which carries a sentence of at least one year in prison. John Zachary Cline remained in the Laurens County Detention Center, pending extradition.

A Greenwood woman has been charged with assaulting another woman at a Laurens Pizza restaurant over two years ago. Laurens City Police overnight delivered 22-year-old Andrea Michelle Shipppy of 103 East Tennessee Street, Greenwood to the Laurens County Detention Center overnight. She is charged with Assault and Battery 2nd Degree. A warrant from 2014 states that on February 24th, 2014 Ms. Shippy struck the victim multiple times about her head and face and that Ms. Shippy struck the victim’s head into a concrete wall, knocking her unconscious. This reportedly occurred at 233 Hillcrest Drive, which was Domino’s. Andrea Michelle Shippy was being held in the Laurens County Detention Center this morning, pending a bond hearing.

The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office yesterday made an arrest in connection with a home burglary last Tuesday. 25-year-old James Curtis Jones of 29-B Fleetwood Drive, Greenville is charged with Burglary 1st Degree and with Grand Larceny. Lt. Keith McIntosh states that on May 10th Mr. Jones entered a dwelling on Hunter Road without consent and with intent to commit a crime therein and that he became armed with a deadly weapon. Jones allegedly took electronics, firearms and a gun safe with intent to permanently deprive the owner of the property, valued at $3,700. During arraignment yesterday, no bond was set for either Laurens County charge. James Curtis Jones remained in the Laurens County Detention Center this morning. The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office also has a charge of Sale or Possession of a Stolen Pistol.

Clinton Public Safety arrested a local man Sunday in connection with an alleged incident on a city street Saturday. 17-year-old Markevious Oneal Carter of 306 Florence Street, Clinton was charged with Assault and Battery 2nd Degree. Sgt. Phillip Wicker states that on May 14th the defendant attempted to cause moderate bodily injury to the victim by driving a vehicle at a high rate of speed and swerving at the victim, causing the victim to have to jump out-of-the-way to avoid being hit. Sgt. Wicker states this incident on West Pitts Street was witnessed by two other individuals. A $40,000 cash or surety bond was set during arraignment. Markevious Oneal Carter remained in the Laurens County Detention Center this morning.

A Spartanburg man arrested by Clinton Public Safety this weekend for two firearms charges on Ferguson Street was served yesterday with a 3rd charge from an incident at the Downtown Citgo Saturday. 22-year-old Octavious Akeem Toland of 202 Markswood Drive, Spartanburg was charged Sunday with Unlawful Carrying of a Pistol and with Sale or Delivery of a Pistol. Toland was accused of carrying a Smith and Wesson .32 revolver handgun about his person without authority to do so on East Ferguson Street in Clinton Saturday, and with knowingly possessing a stolen handgun.

Yesterday Octavious Akeem Toland was charged with Breach of Peace, Aggravated in Nature from another incident in Downtown Clinton Saturday.

Lt. Casey Jones states that on May 14th Toland, acting in concert with two other defendants, offensively brandished and waved a revolver to the terror of the people. This allegedly happened in the parking lot of a convenience store at 102 South broad Street. A $32,000 cash or surety bond was set on the Breach of Peace, Aggravated in Nature charge. Octavious Akeem Toland, also known as “Ox,” remained in the Laurens County Detention Center this morning.

He was also served with a Bench Warrant from a sentence almost two years ago. It states that Toland was convicted June 9th of 2014 for Ill Treatment of Animals and sentenced to 30 days or $677.50.

“Team Ecology” is back for a 4th year this week at the Joe Adair Outdoor Education Center. 713 3rd grade students from Districts 55 and 56 are scheduled to attend the annual environmental education event this year. Each day, today through Friday, students from different schools will experience a variety of activities from 9:15 am until 1:00 pm. The goal of the program is to teach the students about recycling and protecting our natural resources so they will influence their parents and grandparents to recycle.

Today, 3rd graders from Clinton Elementary, Joanna-Woodson and Gray Court-Owings Elementary schools will be there. Tomorrow is for students from Clinton’s Eastside Elementary and Laurens Elementary. Thursday will be for 3rd grade classes from Ford Elementary and E.B. Morse Elementary, while Friday is for these classes from Hickory Tavern, Gray Court Owings Montessori, and Waterloo Elementary.

“Team Ecology” is conducted each year by the Joe R. Adair Center along with the Laurens County Soil & Water Conservation District and the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce. This year’s “Team Ecology” is sponsored by the Laurens County Water & Sewer Commission, Laurens Electric Cooperative, PRTC and ZF Transmission.

Famous horse paintings by Alfred Munnings went galloping off in the middle of the night in late July 2003, along with several important folio prints by John James Audubon and works by artist Louis Aston Knight. A story in Monday’s Charleston Post and Courier indicates it was a horrific loss, and the Belle W. Baruch Foundation quickly initiated an investigation into the crime at its Hobcaw Barony near Georgetown. . It was thought at the time that the stolen artwork was worth in excess of $2 million. Foundation attorney Tom Tisdale quickly registered the inventory with the National Stolen Art File, an FBI database. The Georgetown County sheriff and the FBI identified a suspect and managed to recover many other items that belonged to the foundation at the start of their investigation, but the valuable paintings and prints have remained missing….until now.

The Post and Courier story states that on April 27th the foundation’s executive director, George Chastain received a phone call from Ivy Auctions in Laurens. John Allen Ivy was on the line. Ivey said “I think we have your paintings,” The auction house had received the art from “a hoarder” in Columbia who had recently died.

The Post and Courier reported yesterday that Ivey recalled: “When they came in, I recognized they were good paintings,” Standard procedure is to have such artworks authenticated, and to make sure they’re not stolen. When Converse College Art Professor Frazer Pajak arrived to take photographs for the auction house’s catalogue, he recognized the three Munnings paintings right away. Pajak knew of the missing art pieces and was familiar with the house in which they once hung.

“He was extremely excited about it,” Ivy recalled.

They went online and quickly discovered they were in possession of the stolen Audubons, too. Ivy called Chastain. Then he called the FBI. Arrangements were made for Chastain to meet Ivy that Friday, accompanied by FBI agent Matt Jacobson and Tisdale, the foundation’s attorney.

More details on this story is online at: www.postandcourier.com

And: www.wyff4.com

A Hickory Tavern man initially arrested Monday night has since been charged with additional charges from April. Laurens City Police Officer Scogin initially issued citations charging 20-year-old Ethan Allen Bevins of 109 Old Tavern Drive with Simple Possession of Marijuana, with an ABC violation and with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia at 11:21 Monday night on North Harper at McDowell Street. Warrants were later served charging Bevins with Shoplifting and Trespass after Notice at Wal-Mart on April 18th. Sgt. Thibodeau cites the investigation of Officer Scogin as indicating that Bevins concealed items and removed them from 922 East Main Street and that he was Trespassing after Notice at Wal-Mart April 18th. Ethan Allen Bevins was released last evening on surety bonds totaling $2,502 on the five charges.

Clinton Public Safety made an arrest overnight in connection with false information allegedly given to officers on two days earlier this month during a police investigation. 38-year-old Creuncle Devetchio Suber of 103 G Street, Clinton was booked just after midnight, charged with two counts of Giving False Information to Police. Officer Chris Wilkie states in two warrants that the defendant provided a false name and date of birth to police during a criminal investigation. This allegedly occurred inside the Clinton city limits on May 7th and May 8th. Creuncle Devetchio Suber was being held in the Laurens County Detention Center, pending a bond hearing.