Turtle theft
On Aug. 22, officers responded to Bee City in Cottageville, in reference to a missing box turtle.
The complainant said that he was unaware that the turtle had been stolen from its enclosure at Bee City on August 20.
It was brought to his attention that a female had stolen the turtle and had pictures on Snapchat. The information was passed on to the complainant who alerted deputies.
Car stolen
A man was walking back to work in the 2000 block of Bells Highway on Aug. 19 when people began flagging him down about his car. He realized he’d left the keys in the vehicle.
Then he looked up and saw his brown 2004 Ford Taurus driving by.
The victim and a bystander followed the car out into the county, when the victim’s car abruptly stopped and the suspects, a white male and a white female, struck the vehicle occupied by the victim.
Petty larceny
On Aug. 16 officers responded to a Jefferies Highway residence in reference to larceny of a motor vehicle.
The victim stated that he had left his residence and found his wallet lying on the ground. Approximately $100 was missing. Upon checking inside the vehicle, he found he was also missing a gold watch with a black face valued at $300. In another vehicle at the same residence, a size seven silver and diamond cluster engagement ring and band valued at $300 were also missing.
As both vehicles were unlocked, the subject was able to enter without causing damage.
Assault and battery
A deputy responded to a call on Aug. 16 from a good Samaritan who advised that he had been at a store in Dorchester County and was getting into his truck when he was confronted by an unknown female needing help. She said that her boyfriend and the father of her children had threatened to shoot her after she ended the relationship and she needed a ride back to Colleton County.
Deputies met the woman and driver who told officers that they were allegedly followed by the suspect, who passed them and slammed on brakes to make them stop and run off the road. The suspect also collided with the front driver’s side fender causing substantial damage. Warrants on the suspect were obtained for aggravated assault, assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature and domestic violence.
Pizza delivery complaint
A pizza delivery employee claimed that while on a pizza delivery to Indian Creek Road on Aug. 14, she was threatened with a firearm. The owner of the residence, mistaking the employee for a trespasser, allegedly stated that he was going to “blow her brains out” before he realized that she was delivering food.
The victim did not wish to press charges.
Burglary
Dispatch received a call from a neighbor regarding a burglary on Green Pond Highway on Aug. 16.
Deputies arrived and cleared the residence. They discovered all kitchen cabinets opened, and items thrown throughout the house. Outside, the door to the shed was open, and an air compressor was in the yard. The home’s garage door was open, which is usually locked, and a ladder was in front.
The incident is under investigation.
Malicious property damage
A man called deputies on Aug. 16 and reported that his daughter had taken his Jeep without his permission and gone to stay with her boyfriend. The daughter returned the next day with the Jeep, which had a bullet hole through the front of the hood that hit the engine causing major damage. The daughter denied stealing the Jeep and alleged her father let her take it. Officers conducted an investigation but found no evidence in regard to the bullet hole.
Storage unit theft
A tenant of a storage unit contacted the owner on Aug. 11 to report a theft of his unit. The tenant alleged that the key to the unit was missing from a key ring, and he believed that someone had access to the contents of the unit. He informed the owner that he wanted to press charges. The owner contacted the sheriff’s office to report the incident.
The victim claimed that he was missing a big black box containing a paint sprayer and paint buckets valued at $2,000. He was also missing plumbing tools valued at $1,500, electrical supplies valued at $100, yard tools valued at $150, a Stihl chainsaw valued at $600, and a green rod and reel valued at $100.
The incident is under investigation.
Law office theft
An attorney called dispatch on August 17 to report that his firm’s office building had been burglarized.
The victim stated that he and his administrative assistant had locked the doors on the previous evening and left. Upon returning the next day, there was no sign of forced entry, but missing were a Hewlett Packard laptop, an Apple iPad, a pump 16-gauge shotgun, and 200 blank checks. The victim contacted the bank to put a hold on the account.
Detectives processed the office for evidence and are continuing the investigation.
Residential robbery
On August 12 a homeowner, who lives in Florence, came to Glenn Street to check on a home he rents out. He found that the front door of the residence had been forcibly kicked in and the lime green Maytag washer and dryer were missing.
The victim advised that a former tenant had been evicted two months ago and no one has lived there since. He also told deputies that because he lived so far away, he had no idea when the theft had actually taken place. Officers will continue to investigate the theft.
Drugs confiscated
An officer followed a suspicious car and ran the license plate only to discover that the plate belonged to a different vehicle and expired in 2011.
The officer conducted a traffic stop and observed the passenger throw an object out of the window. Another deputy searched for the object and found a small clear plastic bag containing marijuana. The officer requested that the driver exit the vehicle where upon a Sig Sauer .22 caliber semi-automatic handgun was found in the driver’s waistband.
The driver had a suspended license and was federally prohibited from possessing a handgun. Another search of his pockets revealed methamphetamine.
The drugs were confiscated, and the driver cited. The illegal tag was also confiscated and returned to the DMV.
