Laurens County Deputy Jeremy McMahan responded to Conway Avenue at 12:42 yesterday afternoon to investigate a theft. A man said he was welding on a trailer in the back yard and had walked across the street to speak with someone. He noted a black pickup in his driveway. As he walked back, the truck sped off. He said he recognized the driver and went looking for him. Returning home he saw that his welder and welding helmet were missing, then discovered his weed-eater and electrical box were also gone.
Meanwhile, Sgt. John Carter stopped a suspect pickup on Townsend Street that had two men inside. They allowed a search of the truck, but the stolen items were not there. Eventually officers determined one subject was giving another man’s name as his own, and also saying he had been in Clinton. He was discovered to have a suspended driver’s license for alleged failure to pay traffic tickets in Laurens. The second man in the truck was issued a citation and released. Meanwhile, 38-year-old Samuel Guadalupe of 5 Hanson Circle, Laurens was issued citations at 1:30 pm charging him with Driving under Suspension 2nd Offense and with Giving False Information to Law Enforcement. A warrant was obtained and served on him, charging him with Petit Larceny. It states that Guadalupe took away items valued at less than $2,000 from the victim yesterday. Value of the stolen items was $490. Samuel Guadalupe remained in the Johnson Detention Center overnight, pending a bond hearing today.