Clinton Police Officers were conducting a safety checkpoint early Saturday morning on Highway 56 near Phillips Street. Shortly after 1:00 am, one driver who approached the stop said he did not have his driver’s license. Public Service Officer Gandee asked him to pull to the side of the road to verify his license. Officer Gandee spoke with the diver while Sgt Metz attempted to make contact with a passenger. This passenger reportedly refused a request to roll his window down. He reportedly gave a name determined not to be his name. When he finally rolled his window down, Sgt. Metz asked him for his ID. Using the passenger’s bank card, Sgt. Metz verified that the suspect had given a false name. A check on the man’s real name reportedly determined that this man was wanted for a Bench Warrant from Clinton Municipal Court.

26-year-old Marquis Asyaquan McGowan of 358 Leaman Street, Cross Hill was arrested. Officer Gandee issued a ticket charging him with Giving False Information to Law Enforcement at 1:08 Saturday morning. He was also served with the Bench Warrant from Clinton Municipal Court showing he had been convicted February 29th of 2016 on a Simple Possession of Marijuana charge and sentenced to a $620 fine or 30 days in jail.

During arraignment this weekend, he was given a $470 personal recognizance bond on the False Information to Police charge. Mr. McGowan remained in the Laurens County Detention Center this morning, serving the sentence from last February.

The post Passenger Arrested at Traffic Checkpoint appeared first on WLBG.

Friday Night, Sgt Metz of Clinton Public Safety reportedly noticed a vehicle stop in a road and the driver and front passenger switching seats. After the new driver subsequently failed to put on a turning signal while turning down a road, the officer pulled the vehicle over, and noted a strong smell of marijuana. He advised the female driver why he had stopped her. When questioned about the smell of marijuana from the car, the driver and her three passengers reportedly claimed there was nothing in the car. Suddenly a back seat passenger on the far side quickly exited the vehicle and dashed away on foot. Other units arrived on the scene and chased the fleeing suspect as Sgt Metz stayed with the car. The units were unable to capture the runner, but they were able to identify him and to discover that he was wanted by both the Clinton Department of Public Safety and the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office.  Clinton Lt. Anderson then arrived on the scene to assist Sgt Metz, and after the two officers removed the driver and remaining passengers, they conducted a search of them and the vehicle. The female driver advised the officers that she had a small amount of Marijuana wrapped in a receipt and gave it to them. When the two officers searched the car, they reported locating a recently used Marijuana blunt in the glove box, an open bottle of Ciroc Vodka in the back passenger side floor board, and an open can of Bud Light in the center console. The driver was issued citations for simple possession of Marijuana and Driving under Suspension of her license. A front seat passenger was issued a citation for Simple Possession of Marijuana because of her direct access of the area containing the Marijuana blunt. The back passenger was issued a citation for open liquor because of the open vodka bottle found beneath his feet. The three were then released, pending their court appearances on the charges.

The post Wanted Man Flees Traffic Stop on Foot appeared first on WLBG.

President-Elect Trump’s recent comments about a 35% tax on every imported car into the United States are receiving push-back from a major industry here in the Upstate of South Carolina. WYFFNews4.com has details on this reaction. The WYFF-TV website provides details of a statement received from Ken Sparks, head of corporate communications for BMW of North America.  “The issue is about commitment and BMW made a significant commitment to the U.S. when it began manufacturing vehicles in America more than 22 years ago.” Sparks notes the BMW plant in Spartanburg County is now the company’s largest in the world, producing more than any other BMW plant — 411,000 vehicles in 2016.

In the article at WYFF4.com, Sparks states BMW exports 70% of U.S. production to 140 markets around the world and said the BMW annual export value of nearly $10 Billion is greater than any other auto company in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.

As for the President-Elects concern about BMW plans for a plant in Mexico, Sparks, in the release to WY FF4.com, said “BMW’s decision to build a plant in Mexico is strategic; it will supply cars to our markets around the world and will join our BMW Group Global Production Network of 31 plants in 14 countries.”

In other reaction, Spartanburg County Council member David Britt told WYFF4.com “I think the President-elect needs to look at this issue more carefully.” He said “I welcome him to call me to talk about BMW and South Carolina. This is a company helping make America great again.”

BMW notes some 70,000 people are employed in the United States, in the plant, in distribution and in dealerships across the county.

In addition to Laurens County residents who commute to Greer for jobs at the BMW plant, many more are employed in a number of plants in Laurens County that supply BMW and other automakers with materials used in auto manufacture.

The post BMW Reactions to President-Elect Import Tax Threat appeared first on WLBG.

At 8:41 Sunday Evening, Laurens Police Sgt. Jones responded to a report of an assault on Sunset Park. On arrival he observed a man who appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.

The man said that he was watching a football game at his friend’s house, when they got into an argument and his friend hit him in the head. He added that he had lost his wallet in the scuffle.

The officer observed no visible injuries, and the man refused medical attention. He also refused to give any information as to where the alleged assault took place and who stuck him. Sgt. Jones told the man to go home and get some sleep. As the officer was about to depart, the man’s daughter arrived and said she would take her father home with her.

The post Who Stabbed You?  Where? appeared first on WLBG.

A report of a stabbing dispatched Laurens Police Officer Van Pelt to a residence on the northwest side of town at 10:33 Monday night. He reported arriving to find a woman in the house who said she stabbed her children’s father, following an altercation over his wanting to take the children. He had since departed, heading to the hospital. The woman stated that she was afraid for her life after the man tried to choke her and threw her against a wall. She then reportedly grabbed a picture frame and threw it at him to get away. She then ran into the kitchen. She indicated she stabbed him when he came at her again. The case was under investigation.

The post  Woman Reports Stabbing appeared first on WLBG.

Clinton Public Safety Officer Yelton responded to a complaint of an unwanted guest on the north side of Clinton after 3:30 yesterday morning. A woman at the scene indicated she was at her female neighbor’s home and the father of her unborn baby was pestering both women. She said she told him to leave and went upstairs. Later coming downstairs to lock the door, she discovered he was still there. He reportedly grabbed the pregnant woman, refusing to let her go. He did leave, but came back beating on the door. When the neighbor woman opened the door and told him to leave, he allegedly pushed his way inside, hitting the neighbor-woman in the mouth. That woman fought back, forcing the man to leave her house.

The girlfriend wanted to prosecute the ‘baby’s daddy,’ and to put him on trespass notice for her house; but he is reportedly a resident there, as well.

The post Trouble from Unborn Baby’s Daddy appeared first on WLBG.

Laurens Police Sgt. Simmons responded to Wal-Mart at 9:19 Monday night on a shoplifting report. An employee reported a male and female were suspected of taking a cart load of items, then trying to return them for cash. While Sgt. Simmons was in route to the store, he was advised that the employee had spotted them trying to get into a car with a plastic clothes hanger and a stick. He arrived in time to stop them, and reported detecting a strong smell of alcoholic beverage. Meanwhile, the store alleged the shopping cart involved was filled with items valued at $296.55. Both suspects were arrested. During booking in the Johnson Detention Center, the man was allegedly found to have a Xanax in his pocket.

Yesterday, 22-year-old Joshua Shane Skaggs of 52 Linda Drive, Laurens was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance. He and 23-year-old Heather Renae Taylor, of the same address, were both charged with Shoplifting and Pedestrian under the Influence. Joshua Skaggs was released yesterday on cash or surety bonds totaling $2,250 on his three charges. Ms. Taylor remained in custody this morning with bonds of $1,250 on her two charges.

The post Xanax Ups the Charges appeared first on WLBG.

Two men were placed in the Laurens County Detention Center yesterday on Bench Warrants.

43-year-old Anthony Ray Overman of 121 Patterson Road, Piedmont had two bench Warrants from General Sessions Court. The November 16th, 2016 Bench Warrants indicate he failed to show to face charges of Grand Larceny and Giving False Information to Law Enforcement. He remains in custody, pending his next General Sessions Court appearance. The warrants show a Gray Drive, Gray Court address for Mr. Overman.

39-year-old Adam Ray Zanker of 55 Rolling Hills Road, Gray Court was served with a Bench Warrant from Magistrate’s Court stating he was convicted April 10, 2016 on a Receiving Stolen Goods charge with a sentence of a $581.95 Fine or jail time of 30 days, to run consecutive with any and all other sentences. He remained in custody this morning.

The post Arrests for Bench Warrants appeared first on WLBG.

Drug and Firearms charges were served yesterday on a man the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office had arrested Monday. 23-year-old Denzell Tyree Latimore of 111 Simpson Street, Laurens is now charged with Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute and with Unlawful Carrying of a Pistol.

Mr. Latimore is accused of possessing marijuana, scales and multiple packaging materials Monday with intent to distribute marijuana. He was also accused of carrying about his person a Kel-Tec .380 Caliber pistol, not being authorized to do so. Denzell Tyree Latimore was released yesterday after posting a $25,000 surety bond.

The post PWID Marijuana + Firearms Charge appeared first on WLBG.

A look at state-wide and local economic development was featured yesterday afternoon during the Laurens County Development Corporation’s Annual Meeting held at Musgrove Mill Golf Course.

Nelson Lindsay, Director of Global Business Development for the South Carolina Department of Commerce, said that while 2016 was no record-breaker like some recent years have been, activity was still good. He said tentative numbers for 2016 indicate the state had 131 projects announced that totaled $3.4 billion in investments and created 13,100 new jobs. Lindsay noted that’s down from the $5 billion investments announced annually from 2011 thru 2014. He said that economic development activity is good, but the size of the projects is now smaller.

Nelson Lindsey said South Carolina is not just developing Manufacturing projects, but continues to diversity the type of jobs developed, noting one software company as well as a Comcast announcement.

In introducing Lindsey, LCDC Director Jonathan Coleman noted he moved from being Richland County’s Economic Developer to head the state’s Global Business Development a year ago. Coleman noted that earlier in his career, Nelson Lindsey had Laurens County ties, as Town Administrator for Gray Court.

In a review of economic development for Laurens County in 2016, Coleman reported we had 49 requests for information. We didn’t have any sites to offer 15 of these. He said projects that were announced totaled $114 million in investments, creating 195 new jobs. Jon Coleman said that looking at other jobs created in the community because of these projects; we could see 235 total jobs developed for the county. He predicted $600,000 in property tax income from the new projects after the projects totally develop over a few years.

2016 announcements included a $20 million investment from D & W Fine Pack creating 62 new jobs at the Fountain Inn area plant. An $8.1 million investment by Teknor Apex is to create 68 new jobs.

The post Review of 2016 Economic Development appeared first on WLBG.

Laurens City Council last night gave first reading approval to an ordinance that will clear the way for new housing to be built at the old Laurens Mill site. Ordinance 1-17-01, with 2nd reading approval, will authorize rezoning 12 acres of land at 100 Mill Street from Manufacturing to R-3, residential. Laurens Building and Zoning Director Clay Rykard presented the proposal to City Council. Once the area is zoned residential that will pave the way for a proposed project to construct approximately 68 apartments, and possible future addition of 48 senior apartments.

The project is expected to apply for a federal grant. City Administrator Gary Coleman said “The Housing and Urban Development point system, which considers federal funding for the project, rates former mill sites as one factor, plus others such as distance to stores and parks. If we had applied for this project last year we would have earned more points for its location to a park but their point system for approval changes year to year.” On the proposed project, City Council member Marion Miller said “This will give that area a well needed facelift.”

Bringing property into the city limits received final approval last evening. Laurens City Council unanimously approved ordinance 12-16-01, which authorizes annexation of property on Exchange Drive next to the Zaxby’s Restaurant. This vote is expected to pave the way for construction of an Arby’s restaurant there.

The post New Housing Complex for Old Laurens Mill Site appeared first on WLBG.

A Western Laurens County man was given multiple sentences yesterday in Laurens Municipal Court. 40-year-old Samuel Guadalupe of 2870 Dairy Road, Ware Shoals received a Bench Warrant that stated he had been convicted last week, on January 12th, on a Shoplifting charge. He had a sentence of paying a $620 fine or spending 30 days in jail for that conviction. The Laurens Municipal Court judge yesterday also issued Commitment orders on Mr. Guadalupe for other charges. He was sentenced yesterday to a fine of $2,100 or serving 90 days in the Johnson Detention Center for a 3rd Offense of Driving under Suspension. In three other cases, he was sentenced to fines of between $76 and $232 or jail time of 15 days on charges of Speeding, Improper Lane Change and Careless Operation of a Vehicle. He remained in detention this morning.

The post Sentences Handed Down appeared first on WLBG.

South Caroline Pardon, Probation and Parole Services yesterday arrested a local man on a Violation of Probation charge. 34-year-old Michael Eric McCraney of 171 Colonial Acres, Laurens is accused of failing to comply with a home detention curfew and failure to comply with a notice of violation and response issued on the 5th of this month. He’s further accused of failure to refrain from alcohol consumption and entering an establishment whose primary business is the sale of alcohol. The violations were allegedly evidenced by a Greenville Police January 8th arrest for Disorderly Conduct, resisting arrest and defrauding a hotel, motel or restaurant. He is further accused of being behind on payments required for supervision services, and for alleged failure to follow advice and instructions of his agent.

Michael Eric McCraney was later released on a $15,000 cash or surety bond.

The post Probation Violation appeared first on WLBG.

Laurens City Police arrested two Ware Shoals women yesterday for allegedly being somewhere they didn’t belong, and then being untruthful with an officer. 47-year-old Teresa Madden “Tracy” Smith of 21 Walnut Street, Ware Shoals and 30-year-old Edee Danielle Vermillion of 42 Ezell Drive, Ware Shoals were both charged with Trespassing and with Giving False Information to Police. Both were later released on $465 cash or surety bonds for each of the charges.

The post Shouldn’t Be Here, Shouldn’t Say That! appeared first on WLBG.

The Presbyterian College Department of Music hosts its first concert of 2017 tonight. Dr. Richard Thomas, associate professor of music and Amy Blackwood, lecturer of music at Lander University will present a recital of classical and contemporary music for the cello and piano tonight.

Thomas is director of the Presbyterian College chamber orchestra, as well as a former member of the Sinfónica de Colombia in Bogotá and the Sinfónica Nacional of the Dominican Republic in Santo Domingo.

Blackwood was a collaborative pianist at the Interlochen Summer Arts Camp in Michigan and at the Summer Vocal Arts Program at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

This concert is free and open to the public, starting at 7:30 this evening in Edmunds Hall.

The post P.C. Presents 1st Free Concert of 2017 Tonight appeared first on WLBG.

While Laurens City Council heard concern about a troubling trend in littering in Laurens this week, there were a couple of cases where there was opportunity for optimism. As we reported yesterday, City Council gave 1st reading approval to a rezoning that could result in the old Laurens Mill site being rehabilitated to become the site for a new apartment complex. Building and Zoning Director Clay Rykard had one other bit of good news to discuss on the environmental front. He advised council of corrective action having been taken at the site of the former Beasley’s Home for the Aged. Rykard said the building is now properly secured and the property is now maintained to a satisfactory level.

The post Good Environmental News for Laurens appeared first on WLBG.

Litter bugs are back in Laurens. Street and Sanitation Department Director Kerwin Tribble told City Council this week he is frustrated with the littering situation in the city. He said it is now “out of hand.” He expressed a desire to see that situation improve this year. Tribble noted “We had put up those signs and it was better for a while, and now we just can’t keep up with it.”

The signs he referred to were put up in 2014 as part of an intensive effort to crack down on littering in Laurens. The signs went up after then-Mayor Sharon Brownlee announced in January that the City was going to more forcefully tackle the litter problem that year, since attempts at politely addressing the trashing of town had not rid the town of litter.

Tribble asked council Tuesday evening if they had any effective new ideas on litter prevention. One issue discussed at the meeting was local businesses who set bulk items at curbside in a consistent manner.

One Council Member, Alicia Sullivan, advised her fellow council members that her constituents were planning to have a litter clean up on Green Street this Saturday.

The post Litterbugs on the Loose in Laurens appeared first on WLBG.

Two Joanna men arrested Tuesday by the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office were charged yesterday with Manufacturing Meth and with Unlawful Disposal of Meth Waste on Tuesday.

One of the men, 33-year-old Sylvester “Trey” Ferguson III of 217 Morgan Street, Joanna, was served with warrants yesterday that charge him with 2nd Offense Manufacture of Methamphetamine and with 2nd Offense Unlawful Disposal of Meth Waste. “Trey” Ferguson III was also charged with 2nd Offense, Possession of Crack Cocaine or Cocaine Base and with 2nd Offense Possession of less than one gram of Ice, Crank or Methamphetamine.   Warrants state he committed the crime of 2nd Offense Manufacturing in Methamphetamine Tuesday by having possession of items of items that had been used in the manufacture of meth, or did abet, assist or promote the manufacturing of methamphetamine. Another warrant states he was in constructive possession of waste materials that had been used in the process of manufacturing methamphetamine. Additional warrants allege that Ferguson had possession of the cocaine or meth substances and has prior convictions of the same.

No bond was granted for any of the four charges. Sylvester “Trey” Ferguson III remains in the Laurens County Detention Center.

The second suspect, 56-year-old Henry Lee Davis of 629 Whitmire Highway, Joanna, was charged with 1st Offense, Manufacturing Methamphetamine and with Unlawful Disposal, or Assisting in Disposal of Meth Waste.

Two warrants state that, also on Tuesday, Davis had in his possession items used in the manufacturing of methamphetamine, noting that all items had been used in the process of methamphetamine. The Unlawful Disposal warrant states he had constructive possession of the items that had been used in manufacturing meth.

Cash or surety bonds on the Meth Manufacture and Unlawful Disposal of Meth warrants were set totaling $30,000. Henry Lee Davis remained in the Laurens County Detention Center this morning.

The post Two Charged with Methamphetamine Manufacture appeared first on WLBG.

A Belton, SC man was killed in a crash that occurred early on Thursday morning near Hickory Tavern.

Johnny DeWayne Williams, 45, of 239 Southern Road, Belton SC was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident on US 76 about a quarter mile east of the intersection with Wasson Gin Road.  Laurens County Coroner Nick Nichols told WLBG the cause of death was blunt force trauma.  He estimated the time of death at 12:45 AM.

Williams was driving a 1998 Lexus ES300 east bound on US 76 when the vehicle ran off the right hand side of the road and struck a tree.  There were no other vehicles involved in the accident.

The post Fatal Crash Near Hickory Tavern appeared first on WLBG.

Two people were booked in the Johnson Detention Center yesterday with Bench Warrants showing convictions in Magistrate’s Court with sentences yet to be satisfied.

26-year-old Shayana A. Truitt of 185 Methodist Drive, Spartanburg was and served with two Bench Warrants showing convictions in Laurens County Magistrate’s Court for Shoplifting and Giving False Information.  Each had sentences of 30 days or fines of between $257 and $610.

31-year-old Tristian Grant of 408 North Bell Street, Clinton was served with Bench Warrants showing convictions in Magistrate’s Court November 3rd 2015 for Simple Possession of Marijuana and May 15, 2015 for Purchase of more than 9 Grams of Ephedrine or Pseudoephedrine in a 30 day period. Grant is sentenced to 30 days on each charge, or fines from $338 to $465.

Both remained in custody this morning.

The post Sentences to Serve appeared first on WLBG.