Sexual activity with a female three years younger was indicated in a warrant served yesterday on a Clinton teen. The 18-year-old male was arrested by the Sheriff’s Office and charged with Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor. A warrant dated yesterday cites the investigation of Deputy Howard as indicating that the 18-year-old male knowingly and willfully caused a minor child, age 15, to become disobedient to her parents, by encouraging her to sneak out of her home to meet him on numerous occasions, and of having intercourse with her. The young man was being held overnight, pending a bond hearing today.

The post 18 + 15 = Trouble appeared first on WLBG.

Four people from Woodruff and Enoree have been charged in connection with a Laurens County burglary last month and the theft of several firearms. The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office yesterday arrested 21-year-old Brandon Leigh Baxter of 301 Parson Road, Woodruff, 23-year-old Brandon Mark Good of 102 Jamies Creek Drive, Woodruff, 24-year-old Dana Renee Smith of 15,169 Highway 221, Enoree and 20-year-old Zachary Thomas Taylor of 830 Browning Road, Enoree. The three men and one woman were each charged with Burglary 1st Degree and Grand Larceny.

In warrants for each, Sheriff’s Lt. Keith McIntosh states that on December 7th, 2016 the subject entered a building at a Mahaffey Road, Gray Court address and became armed with a deadly weapon. Each defendant is further accused of taking and carrying away eleven firearms with intent to deprive the owner of the weapons. They were valued in excess of $2,000. The scene of the burglary is on the Green Pond Road side of Mahaffey Road, south of Highway 101.

During arraignment hearings yesterday, bond was denied on both charges for all four defendants. Brandon Lee Baxter and Brandon Mark Good of Woodruff, along with Dana Renee Smith and Zachary Thomas Taylor of, Enoree, remained in the Laurens County Detention Center this morning.

The post 4 Charged from December 7th Firearms Theft appeared first on WLBG.

The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office yesterday assisted Spartanburg deputies in a police chase involving a suspect in a Strong Armed Robbery in Spartanburg. The chase included many rural roads in Laurens County north and west of Laurens. Laurens County Chief Deputy Jarvis Reeder said it included travel on I-385, US 221, Highway 308, Metric Road, Highway 14, and loops that included Lynn Avenue and Lakeview Drive back to 14 before finally coming thru Laurens, southbound on Harper Street. The chase reportedly ended just after 11:30 am on the entrance ramp from South Harper Extension onto the 127 By-Pass when the fleeing vehicle was bumped by a Spartanburg Deputy’s patrol car.

After being checked by Laurens County EMS, 48-year-old Ephriam Guadelupe of 318 Alverson Road, Campebello was released to Spartanburg County. The Sheriff’s Office there has him booked on charges of Strong Armed Robbery, Grand Larceny, Petit Larceny, Use of a Vehicle without Consent and Failure to Stop for Blue Lights.

One of the rural Laurens County Roads traveled during the police chase was Poole Town Road, northeast of Laurens. Guadelupe was booked as a resident of Poole Town Road when arrested by Laurens City Police in December, 2015. WLBG.com shows Laurens Police had charges that included Safecracking at a Corner Mart store at 1403 West Main in Laurens.

Laurens County Chief Deputy Sheriff Jarvis Reeder said that over twenty deputies from the two counties were involved in the chase. Sheriff Don Reynolds said “We are glad that the deputies of the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office were able to assist in the apprehension of Ephriam Guadelupe, and thankful that no injuries resulted from this arrest.”

The post Police Chase Spartanburg to Laurens appeared first on WLBG.

At 9:05 Wednesday evening, Laurens Police Sgt. Simmons responded to the second complaint in an hour about a situation in the southeast part of town, where an allegedly drunk and disorderly person was reported to be trying to instigate a fight. A 40-year-old man was arrested on a Breach of Peace charge and placed in the county lockup. After a hold to sober up, the man was officially booked later yesterday.

The post 2nd Call Got Him appeared first on WLBG.

Tuesday afternoon on Beauregard Street, a Clinton man reported to police that his neighbor had shot a firecracker through his front window. The alleged perpetrator reportedly advised Public Safety Officer Reel that he had already spoken with the victim about paying for the estimated $20 in damage to the widow.

The complainant then called his father, who owned the residence, to ask what should be done. The father told Officer Reel that he, along with his son and the suspect, would handle the situation and that he did not wish to press any charges.

The post Firecracker –vs- Window appeared first on WLBG.

Clinton Public Safety Officer Gutierrez reported he was stationary Tuesday night when he noticed a man staggering across the street. A car then came along and had to stop because the man got in its way. According to his police report, Gutierrez made contact with the adult male as he crossed the road into a nearby Family Dollar parking lot. When the officer approached the male, he recognized the apparently intoxicated man from a previous Public Intoxication case. Officer Gutierrez noted observing a strong smell of an alcoholic beverage. The man reportedly advised the officer that he was on the way to his grandmother’s house.  Gutierrez asked the man for an ID. As the subject pulled an ID from his pocket, he dropped it. Reaching over to pick it up, the man struggled to grab it, but missed. As the officer advised the man of the scent of alcohol consumption and his having almost been hit by a car, the man reportedly stated that he was fine, and added that he was only going to his grandmother’s house.

Noting very slow and slurred speech, the smell of alcoholic beverage and the man’s swaying during their conversation; the officer placed the man under arrest for a public intoxication charge. The man was transported to the Johnson Detention Center, instead of grandma’s house.

The post Trip to Grandma’s Interrupted appeared first on WLBG.

Sheriff’s Lt. Higgenbotham was dispatched to a Lil’ Cricket store at 3:53 yesterday morning after a woman called from there to report an assault. On arrival at the scene, EMS was leaving to transport the woman to hospital due to complainants about her neck. Lt. Higgenbotham when to the residence where the incident reportedly happened and knocked several times before the boyfriend came to the door, saying he had been asleep. He reportedly indicated that he and his girlfriend had arrived home in the early morning hours after being out for a few drinks. He indicated she was upset with him, yelling for him to find the keys, and when he couldn’t locate them, she broke a window to get inside the house. He alleged that she swung at him a couple of times after inside. The officer observed scratches on the left side of the man’s face and a lip was ‘busted.’ The man said he didn’t want the woman charged, he just wanted his wallet back so he could leave.

Lt. Higgenbotham went to the hospital and talked with the woman and noted observing a small scratch below her right eye and some faint redness. She alleged the man assaulted her, and that any marks on his neck would be from where she defended herself. The officer was going to present information to a judge to see if any charges were in order from the incident.

The post Where’s My House Key! appeared first on WLBG.

A Sheriff’s Deputy was dispatched on a residential burglary report at 8:06 Wednesday morning. Deputy Andrew Hall met a woman who said she had arrived home from her overnight work shift at ZF and her neighbor came over and warned her to be careful because her door was open to her house. The neighbor reportedly indicated having observed a mini-van at the victim’s house around 12:30 in the morning. The woman checked and found a cordless phone missing, along with three televisions. They had 70 inch, 48 inch and 40 inch screens. Value was noted as $1,300.  Deputy Hall reported observing damage to the victim’s front door, indicating that force had been used to gain entry.

The post Burglary Discovered on Arrival Home appeared first on WLBG.

Anyone looking for visible evidence of preparations for economic growth in Clinton need only gaze at activity off Highway 72 east. Earthmoving equipment is now busy along the new frontage road on the west side of Interstate 26, near the Highway 72 interchange. The city is having the land transformed to welcome restaurants, retail and other business operations that will be easily seen by people passing by on the interstate.

This past year, huge earthmoving equipment transformed property along Highway 72 east of I-26 for industrial development. Two areas now have land leveled and ready for construction, and walls have risen for a new 75,000 square foot “spec” building.

This week, at Monday evening’s Clinton City Council meeting, City Manager Frank Stovall recommended that council pass a Reimbursement Resolution related to potential improvements to infrastructure there in the I-26 Commerce Park. The 750 acre park has seen considerable investment in the form of a 100,000 square foot industrial building pad, a the 75,000 square foot “spec” building currently under construction, the extension of electric service, a sign for the park and an access road into the park.

Stovall told council that the city may soon undertake the extension and improvement of both sewer and water utilities within the park.

If the city does move forward on the water and sewer project, it is likely that the expense involved – just over One Million Dollars – would require a bond issue to fund it. However, there will first be expenses involved for engineering and design. Payment for this work will need to be paid before any bond funds become available. Frank Stovall this week proposed that council approve a Reimbursement Resolution so that any money spent from the city’s general operating funds could be eventually reimbursed from the proceeds of the bond, when it is issued.  The resolution, he explained, does not obligate the city to move forward with the project or to issue industrial bonds.  It simply makes it possible for the city to reimburse its operating funds for the upfront engineering and design expenses from the proceeds of the bond should it eventually be issued.

Council approved the resolution as requested on a unanimous vote.

The post Visible Evidence of Readiness for Economic Development appeared first on WLBG.

Concern about a new natural gas pipeline coming through our area was expressed this week at the Laurens County Council meeting. During the first council meeting of the year Tuesday evening, Shelley Robbins of Upstate Forever addressed council regarding the proposed Dominion Pipeline and its impact on Laurens County. Presenting a map of the pipeline’s proposed route, she noted it will come right through the center of Laurens County.

Robbins told council that this pipeline is part of the Transco to Charleston Project. She said that Dominion is a for-profit company and that the natural gas is to be exported to other countries.

Ms. Robbins, Project Manager for Upstate Forever, was accompanied by Environmental Attorney Michael Corley. They painted a picture of negative impact on Laurens County, should the pipeline come through here. This included concern expressed about property owners being threatened with use of imminent domain, should they not agree to sell their property for the pipeline.

Local sources advised WLBG that the proposed pipeline would transport natural gas from the northeast to Elba Island, some five miles downstream from Downtown Savannah, Georgia, where it would be converted to liquefied natural gas so it could be exported to other countries.

County Council agreed to accept the report as information. Ms. Robbins later told WLBG News she is attempting to get more news coverage of the proposed pipeline to make the public more aware of their concerns about the pipeline.

The post County Council Hears Concern About New Pipeline appeared first on WLBG.

Laurens County residents have multiple opportunities to celebrate the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday this weekend. The Thomas Sanders Alumni Association is having its annual MLK Day celebration at noon tomorrow at Sanders Middle School. Festivities include youth presenting their essays on Dr. King’s impact. The 40th Annual Freedom Fund Banquet of the Laurens County NAACP starts at 6:00 Saturday evening at Mt. Carmel AME Church near Gray Court. This year’s national theme of “Education Equity: Opening the Golden Door of Freedom to All Children, the keynote speaker for the Laurens County celebration will be Dr. Stephen G. Peters, Superintendent for Laurens County District 55 Schools.

A Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Gospel Showcase is planned for 3:00 Sunday afternoon at Friendship A.M.E. Church, 118 South Bell in Clinton. On Friday’s WLBG Morning News interview, Church Pastor Stephen Evans said local choirs, quartets, duos and soloists are invited to join in the celebration.

The post MLK Holiday Celebrations appeared first on WLBG.

“Education Equity: Opening the Door of Freedom for All Children” was the theme for the 40th Annual Freedom Fund Banquet Saturday night. A full house of some 350 people was on hand as the Laurens County Branch of the NAACP held the annual event in Honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the Mount Carmel AME Church’s Family Life Center.

Keynote Speaker, Laurens County District 55 Superintendent Dr. Stephen G. Peters, remembered words of the late Dr. King from a speech written at age 18 in 1947 at Morehouse College, and from the famous “I Have a Dream” Speech given during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963.

On the theme of Education Equity, Peters explained the difference of the words Equality and Equity by saying that with equality, every child has a pair of shoes; while with equity, each child’s shoes actually fits them. He also used two school board members in an exercise to illustrate how the child who has an intellectually stimulating summer break gets further ahead each year while the student who does not gets further behind.

Three NAACP members were honored for their work on behalf of the organizations efforts. Mr. James Mason won the C.D. Beasley Sr. Service Award. Carolyn Beasley Shortt presented it, saying that for a number of years, Mr. Mason has been extremely active in the organization. This activity included his being chair of the committee that organized this year’s annual Freedom Fund banquet.

There were two recipients of the President’s Award this year. Laurens County NAACP Chapter President Adolphus Brewster presented the award to Mildred Henderson of Waterloo and Wilamenia Jones of Enoree.

The post “Equity in Education” Theme for NAACP appeared first on WLBG.

Clinton Public Safety Lt. Cathy Anderson responded to a convenience store off I-26 Friday night on a report of suspicious people at the business. The father of a woman working at the store had called the report in, saying people were asking the daughter for money. Arriving at the scene, the frightened woman reportedly said two suspects came to her house earlier, asking for money to get a Tattoo, and she refused. Later, they reportedly came to the store where she was working, asking for money again and roaming the store, then leaving in a vehicle. Lt Anderson advised the young woman that if the two suspects bothered her again she should call the police and not her father. The subjects were not located by police.

The post Loan Me Some Money for a Tattoo! appeared first on WLBG.

A report of a stolen vehicle dispatched Laurens Police Sgt. James Nolen to the Rack-and-Roll club on East Main just before noon Sunday. The vehicle owner said he had been at the club Saturday night and because he had been drinking, he caught a ride home, leaving his vehicle there. He said on arrival to retrieve his car Sunday morning, the 2016 black Jeep Wrangler was missing. He indicated it had been left unsecured, but he did have the keys.

The post Don’t Drive After Drinking, But Do Lock Your Car! appeared first on WLBG.

Laurens Police Sgt. James Nolen responded at 1:34 Saturday morning after a man reported seeing a woman being attacked by a male subject at a neighboring house. The complainant reportedly said the man had placed the female victim in a headlock, then pushed her to the ground, shoved her face into the dirt and struck her face several times. He said when he yelled at the subject to stop assaulting the woman, he got a wood shovel handle and struck him. Then the witness’ girlfriend reportedly came outside, grabbed a folding chair and threw it at the subject to get him away from her boyfriend, the subject then reportedly left the scene in a blue car, accompanied by the woman he had allegedly been assaulting and another man who had been on the victim’s porch.

Laurens Police yesterday charged 23-year-old Kristopher Kantay Valentine of 387 Watson Street, Laurens with two counts of Assault and Battery 2nd Degree and with one charge of Domestic Violence 2nd Degree. He is accused of assaulting one victim on Pine Street by striking him multiple times on his chest and arms with a stick. A second warrant alleges he struck this victim on her right wrist with a stick. The Domestic Violence warrant states that Valentine assaulted the victim by striking her about the body and placing her in a choke hold, and that it was aggravated due to the defendant restricting the victim’s air way. Kristopher Kantay Valentine remained in custody overnight, pending a bond hearing.

The post Alleged Assaults on Girlfriend & Neighbors appeared first on WLBG.

Clinton Public Safety arrested a woman Thursday night after she allegedly pulled a loaded handgun on her boyfriend. 47-year-old Kavonne Ruff of 608 Shands Street, Clinton was charged Friday with Domestic Violence of a High and Aggravated Nature, Possession of a Weapon during a Violent Crime and Possession of a Firearm by a Violent Felon.

Kavonne Ruff is accused of offering to cause physical harm under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life. This allegedly occurred January 12th when she pointed a loaded 9mm caliber handgun at the victim’s head, creating reasonable fear of great bodily injury or death. She and the victim live did live together. This reportedly occurred at 608 Shands Street. Ms. Ruff is accused of possessing a 9mm caliber weapon at her residence January 12th, unlawful as she has been convicted of Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature.

Bond was denied on all three charges. Kavonne Ruff remained in the Laurens County Detention Center this morning.

The post Bond Denied on Three Charges involving 9mm Handgun appeared first on WLBG.

Could there be a new Laurens High School in three years? That was among the ideas expressed Saturday night as District 55 Superintendent Dr. Stephen Peters spoke at the 40th Annual Laurens County NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet. His keynote speech expressed a lot of ambition for accomplishments, including having the 1st class graduate from the… Read More »

The post New Laurens High Considered appeared first on WLBG.

Five men and one woman arrested by the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office Friday had Meth charges ranging from Possession with Intent to Trafficking.  The suspects are from Anderson, Abbeville, Greenville and Laurens Counties.

A Waterloo man was charged with Meth Distribution Friday and last fall. 36-year-old Brandon Curtis Horne of 248 Co-op Road, Waterloo was charged with Distribution of Meth 2nd Offense. That warrant states he distributed meth to a confidential informant on October 4th 2016. Charges alleging violations last Friday include Trafficking in Methamphetamine, 2nd Offense, two counts of Unlawful Neglect of a Child and Receiving Stolen Goods. Brandon Horne is accused of having 88 grams of methamphetamine in his possession Friday. He was further accused of placing two children under age 11 at unreasonable risk of harm by having the children in the residence where unlawful drugs were present and being used. Horne had custody of the children and is their parent. Brandon Horne was also accused of having a stolen Marlin rifle in his possession Friday.

No bond was granted on any of the five charges. Brandon Curtis Horne remained in the Laurens County Detention Center this morning.

42-year-old Jason Andrew Davis of 18,367 Highway 25 South, Ware Shoals was arrested Friday and charged with Possession of Meth with Intent to Distribute, 3rd or Subsequent Offense and Possession of a Controlled Substance. Narcotics Investigator Charles Nations states that on January 13th Davis had more than one gram of ice/Methamphetamine with intent to distribute. He also allegedly possessed two Schedule II controlled substances. During arraignment, Judge Paul Dean Lyles denied bond on both charges. Jason Andrew Davis remained in custody this morning.

Deputy Sheriff Morgan issued a ticket initially charging 26-year-old Barry Lee Davis Jr. of 502 Conway Avenue, Laurens with Public Disorderly Conduct at 5:03 am on Conway Avenue near Walker. He was later served with Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute and with two charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance. Barry Lee Davis Jr. allegedly possessed multiple baggies of methamphetamine Friday with intent to distribute. Two additional warrants allege that Davis also unlawfully possessed schedule II and IV controlled substances. A 4th warrant alleges he Resisted Arrest. Cash or surety bonds were set totaling $60,232. Barry Lee Davis Jr. remained in custody this morning.

Three of the six persons arrested on Meth charges Friday are accused of 1st Offense Possession of Meth with Intent to Distribute. Warrants on all three state they were in possession of more than one gram of meth Friday with intent to distribute.

A Cash or Surety bond was set at $50,000 for 31-year-old Christopher Joseph Bowen of 46 Winding Creek Court, Honea Path.

$25,000 cash or surety bonds were set for 38-year-old Tami Crystal Roberts of 302 South Leach Street, Greenville and 35-year-old Brandon Michael Glazier of 412 East Broad Street, Iva.

The post Six Charged Meth Trafficking to Possession with Intent appeared first on WLBG.

Laurens Police Officer David Lindsey responded to the Roadway Inn on Bolt Drive at 10:37 Friday night on complaint of a disturbance at the motel. A woman reportedly said she had been assaulted by a man in her room, who had since left walking. As Officer Lindsey was looking for the man, another officer spoke with the woman, who indicated she wanted to be treated. EMS responded but reported they didn’t find any injuries on the alleged victim. After the male subject was located, he reportedly said he was trying to leave the motel room and the woman didn’t want him to leave, so he pushed her aside in order to exit the room.

Due to conflicting descriptions of what happened and the lack of injuries being seen on the woman, officers did not charge anyone. They were going to present the matter to a municipal judge for review.

The post What Injuries? appeared first on WLBG.

An elderly Western Laurens County man remained in custody this morning, following his arrest by the Sheriff’s Office Sunday. The man was served with a warrant charging Violation of an Order of Protection. In the warrant, Deputy Jonathan Brown states that the man was found in the basement of the victim’s home on Sunday, thereby knowingly and willfully violating the terms and conditions of an Order of Protection issued in Family Court of the 8th Judicial Circuit. He remained in the county detention center this morning.

The post Violation of Order of Protection appeared first on WLBG.