Erratic driver stopped on local highway
By Heather Ruppe
An officer coming into Colleton County on Cottageville Highway found himself caught behind a reckless driver. According to a Colleton County Sheriff’s Office incident report, a deputy was driving west on Cottageville Highway on July 28 when he noticed the car in front of him being driven erratically. The driver was trying to pass several vehicles at a “high rate of speed,” the report stated. The deputy also said in his report that the reckless driver was narrowly passing vehicles, nearly causing accidents with oncoming traffic. As the driver of the vehicle neared an intersection, the driver again passed several cars on a double solid yellow line. The deputy pulled the driver off and asked her why she was driving so erratically and dangerously, and the woman replied she had just picked up her dogs and was “ready to get home,” the report said.
The woman was cited for passing unlawfully and was released.
In other Colleton County crime news:
Boat landing brawl
Local law enforcement officers were called to an area boat landing last week to help officers in neighboring Dorchester County, who were dealing with a reported fight in progress. On July 31, deputies with the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office were sent to the Messervey Landing along Boat Landing Road near the Dorchester-Colleton County line. There was a “large crowd” with multiple fights happening simultaneously. It is unclear as to how many people were arrested in this incident.
House thermostat stops working
A Walterboro woman called 911 last week to report the theft of batteries.
According to a Colleton County Sheriff’s Office incident report, the woman asked deputies to come to her Walterboro house on July 20 when she discovered that the batteries were missing inside the thermostat in her house. Deputies did respond; however, there is no information in the incident report about any other details on this case.
Driver, passenger caught with drugs in car
A suspicious-acting driver was caught with drugs inside her car during a traffic stop last week. On July 31, a deputy driving down Harrison Road saw a Kia parked on the side of the road. A woman was standing outside of the car; however, when she saw the officer, she “hurried back” into the passenger seat and the driver moved the car to a stop sign at Harrison Road and Sidneys Road, a Colleton County Sheriff’s Office incident report stated. The deputy then stopped the vehicle for the driver rolling through the stop sign. During the traffic stop, the passenger seemed nervous. However, she denied having any drugs or anything illegal in the car. Yet, a drug dog with the sheriff’s office gave a positive alert to the vehicle. Deputies then searched the car and found cocaine. Syringes and a spoon were also found on the floor of the vehicle.
Thief steals gun, jewelry
A Walterboro house was burglarized last week. According to a Walterboro Police Department incident report, the unknown suspect broke into a house on Crosby Street in Walterboro on July 30 and stole a gun. The suspect also stole more than $2,000 in jewelry. The victim was at work when the burglary occurred, the report stated. There are no suspects identified in the report.
