FAIRFIELD COUNTY – Two arrests have been made in thefts from a hunting property near Lake Wateree.
Michael P. McLemore, SR, 37, and Joshua A. Shealy, 33, were
charged with Grand Larceny for the thefts of a small farm truck, an ATV
(all-terrain vehicle) and a chain saw between Feb. 19-20, 2023.
An investigation by the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office
developed both McLemore and Shealy as suspects in this incident.
Both men were arrested on Feb. 21, in Richland County.
McLemore was transported to the Fairfield County Detention Center. Shealy, who
is currently being held at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center on unrelated
charges, will be brought to Fairfield County Detention Center when he is
released.
On Feb. 22, FCSO investigators recovered the farm truck in
Fairfield County. The ATV was recovered in Kershaw County, and the chain saw
was recovered in Richland County. All of these items were returned to the
owners.
HOPKINS – Blythewood’s Track and Field team competed in the Diamond Hornet’s Invitational on March 4 at Lower Richland.
Pulling first place finishes for the girls’ were Hailey Duncan, Arianna Williams, Jasmine Young, Keaundrea Bateman and the girls 4×100, 4×400 and 4×800 relays.
The girls had 19 top-five finishes, and the boys had 13 top-five finishes.
JENKINSVILLE – One person died in an early Monday morning
crash on Highway 213 near Alston Road in Fairfield County.
Brian Deshawn Willingham, 19, of Jenkinsville, died in the
accident, Fairfield County Coroner Chris Hill said.
The two-vehicle crash occurred at 6:14 a.m. about two miles
south of Jenkinsville.
A 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche, driven by Willingham, was
traveling north on Hwy 213 when it collided with a 2014 Peter Built tractor
trailer traveling south, according to Corporal Tyler Tidwell with the SC
Highway Patrol.
Willingham died in the crash. The driver of the Peter Built tractor trailer was injured and transported to MUSC Fairfield.
The crash is being investigate by the SC Highway Patrol.
More information about the accident will be posted as it becomes available.
Attached image features aerial view of proposed site
COLUMBIA: The Richland County Economic Development Office has announced that Scout Motors Inc. (“Scout”), which is backed by Volkswagon and makes the next-generation of all-electric trucks and rugged SUVs, has announced it will establish its manufacturing operations in Blythewood.
The company’s planned $2 billion investment has the potential to create 4,000 or more permanent jobs and 200,000 vehicles a year.
The state of South Carolina and Richland County plan to make significant investments to infrastructure and roads in and around Blythewood to support this project and to help alleviate traffic in the Blythewood area. This investment is in addition to the current penny-tax plan to improve Blythewood Road.
Richland County also plans to dedicate funding to upgrade the Blythewood Fire Station, and as part of the County’s incentive package, employees at Scout would be eligible for stipends to support employees’ childcare.
The Blythewood Industrial Site, off Interstate 77, spans approximately 1,600 acres, with the plant itself occupying 1,100 acres. Scout is planning to break ground on the new manufacturing facility in Blythewood Industrial Park in mid-2023, and vehicle production is targeted to begin by the end of 2026.
Richland County Council is scheduled to give the package third reading on March 21.
“This proposed manufacturing facility marks a major milestone in the history of Richland County and the potential for our most significant economic development project to date,” said Overture Walker, Chair of the Richland County Council. “This decision represents a transformational breakthrough that would position us at the forefront of the clean energy future while promising to boost the quality of life for residents across our County for generations to come.”
“Richland County has spent years laying the groundwork for today’s historic announcement, and we are thrilled that Scout shares our view that this area is the ideal location for a world-class company to plant its flag,” said Jeff Ruble, Director of the Richland County Economic Development Office. “With our supportive business development network, vibrant workforce, culture of innovation, and connectivity to key strategic hubs, Richland County has created a strong economic foundation that Scout would be able to build upon in the years to come.”
Originally produced by International Harvester from 1960 to 1980, Scout was the world’s first utility vehicle capable of both off-road adventure and family duty. Building on that celebrated legacy, Scout will be making the next generation of all-electric trucks and rugged SUVs in the same tradition that made the original Scout vehicles an American icon.
“We are thrilled to welcome Scout Motors to the town of Blythewood,” said Bryan S. Franklin, Mayor of the Town of Blythewood. “This historic investment will bring thousands of jobs, economic growth and opportunity to our local community. We are honored to have been selected for this exciting new venture. We look forward to working closely with our partners, community members and other stakeholders to ensure the success of this project and to build a bright future for our town and our region.”
“We’re honored to partner with South Carolina to usher in this new era for Scout,” said Scott Keogh, President and CEO of Scout Motors. “Gov. McMaster is committed to investing in the state’s people, and we plan to bring new opportunities to grow this community of innovators. The world needs more Scouts, and this is an important step in honoring Scout heritage and electrifying its future.”
Richland County deputies respond to a call about a deceased male in the corner of the IGA parking lot. | Barbara Ball
BLYTHEWOOD – Richland County Sheriff’s Deputies were called
to the IGA parking lot in Blythewood on March 2, where a body was discovered
about 10:30 that morning on the edge of the parking lot.
The body, partially hidden by shrubbery, was discovered by
residents of the apartment building who were walking to the IGA grocery store
when they could partially see a person’s body underneath shrubbery along the
edge of the parking lot.
Officers on scene confirmed the deceased is a male and was
reported to be a resident of a senior apartment building next to the parking
lot.
The Richland County Coroner’s Office has not publicly
identified the man, or publicly released a cause of death. According to
officials there were no obvious signs of trauma. The coroner’s office will
perform an autopsy to determine how the man died, the sheriff’s department
said.
FAIRFIELD COUNTY – Caleb Beryl Davis, 20, has been arrested for the murders of Malik R. Butler and Theron G. Byrd, Jr.
Davis
During the early morning hours of Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023,
deputies were called to a residence on Marsh Lane in the Hwy 215 South area of
Fairfield County. There, they found Malik Butler and Theron Byrd shot dead inside
the residence, according to the Fairfield County Sheriff’s office.
Since then, Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office investigators
have been working tirelessly on leads generated from this investigation and
were able to develop Davis as a suspect, Sheriff Will Montgomery said.
On Feb. 28, 2023, Davis, who was out on bond for another
murder that occurred in February, 2021, was charged with two counts of Murder
and two counts of possession of a weapon during a violent crime. Davis has been
in the Fairfield County Detention Center on unrelated charges since Feb. 24,
2023, and is currently awaiting bond.
“We are glad to have been able to make an arrest in this
investigation and we want to extend our thanks to the SC Law Enforcement
Division for their assistance,” Montgomery said. “I want to thank not only my
staff, but also those in the community who willingly talked with our
investigators to help us put all of the pieces of this investigation together.
Without our community partnerships that we have, and are so proud of, it would
be much harder to make headway in investigations such as this one.
“This investigation is still ongoing and we ask that anyone
who may have any information about this incident to contact the Fairfield
County Sheriff’s Office.”
FAIRFIELD COUNTY – Five men have been arrested for gun-related
charges, drugs, and other offenses.
On Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023, deputies were investigating a
suspicious vehicle on Old Chester Rd, an area where recent shooting incidents
have been occurring.
As deputies arrived at the scene, two individuals were
observed with handguns and were detained.
The driver of the vehicle, later identified as Ja’Terria
Russell, fled the scene with two other individuals inside the vehicle. After a
short pursuit, deputies detained the three individuals inside the vehicle. Through
their investigation, deputies seized two rifles and three handguns, ammunition,
and a quantity of marijuana.
Jalen C. Cohen, 18, was arrested and charged with unlawful
carrying of a pistol, possession of a stolen pistol and Simple possession of
marijuana.
Ja’Terria A. Russell, 18, was arrested and charged with
failure to stop for blue light, unlawful carrying of a pistol, and possession
with intent to distribute marijuana.
Ratrez D. White, 18, was arrested and charged with unlawful
carrying of a pistol and possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
Brian D. Willingham, 18, was arrested and charged with
unlawful carrying of a pistol and possession with intent to distribute
marijuana.
Stephen S. Willingham, 18, was arrested and charged with unlawful
carrying of a pistol, possession of a stolen pistol, and simple possession of
marijuana.
All five were transported to the Fairfield County Detention
Center.
LAKE WATEREE – Five men have been arrested in conjunction with a grand larceny investigation regarding thefts of multiple items from a commercial storage facility in the Lake Wateree area, according to Fairfield County Sheriff Will Montgomery.
During the course of this investigation, it was determined
that these five individuals, Richard Adams (50), William Baker, Jr (35) Herman
Gear (40), Gregory Javins (26), and John Shirle, III (35), entered the
commercial storage facility between Jan. 30-31, and stole two camper trailers and
an enclosed trailer containing two ATVs
(All-Terrain Vehicles), two generators, and various camping equipment items.
As of Feb. 27, deputies have recovered the majority of these
items that were stolen, according to Montgomery, and Investigators are
continuing to work to locate the remaining stolen property, including the two
generators and one ATV.
All five individuals were charged with three counts, each,
of grand larceny, greater than $10,000, as well as criminal conspiracy, one
count each.
They are booked into the Fairfield County Detention Center.
RIDGEWAY – Waffle House in Ridgeway was the latest victim of gun-related crime in Fairfield County, when two male suspects robbed the store at gunpoint, according to the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office.
Around 1:49 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 24, Fairfield County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to Waffle House on 34 Contractor’s Way in Ridgeway in reference to an armed robbery. While en route, deputies were told that two male suspects had departed the store on foot and were headed towards The Sharpe Shoppe, the gas station next to Waffle House, the incident report stated.
According to the report, a female employee told deputies upon their arrival at 1:58 a.m. that she was in the dish pit area when two unknown subjects entered the establishment and raised a firearm to rob her register. As she pulled the money from the register, one of the suspects grabbed the money from her and made his way towards the hallway by the restrooms to access the side door.
The suspect in the rear of the store appeared to have a
weapon malfunction while attempting to shoot the lock off of the office door,
and requested assistance from the suspect in the front of the store, according
to the report.
The female employee reported that she heard four gunshots,
and within a minute the two subjects left the store on foot.
A male employee, a cook, told deputies that, while taking a
break outside the front of Waffle House, two individuals with black hoods over
their heads approached him from the back side of the building. The male employee
told deputies that one of the subjects, who stood about 5’10”, told him to go
back inside the building and that the second male followed them inside,
according to the report.
Once inside, one of the male subjects held them at gunpoint while the other subject retrieved money from the register, the report stated. The subject with the handgun walked to the back of the restaurant where the safe is located, and then he heard four gunshots. A few moments later, both suspects left the restaurant, the report said.
According to the report, deputies discovered a hole in the
outer part of the metal door leading to the safe, upon examination.
The incident report stated that $2,000 was stolen and
estimated damages to the building at $500.
The female employee told officers that the two suspects ran
out of the back door of the restaurant, towards the Exxon gas station, and that
she did not see a vehicle, the report said.
Witnesses told deputies both individuals were wearing blue
jeans, black tennis shoes, black hoodies, and masks covering their faces.
No suspects have been identified as of March 1. The incident remains under investigation by the Sheriff’s Office. This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
WINNSBORO – An environmental investigation by the SC Department of Health & Environmental Control is being conducted on West Palmer Street near the town’s streets and sanitation department.
The investigation began Thursday, Feb. 23 and officials said Friday afternoon that it is not yet known how long workers will remain on site.
On Feb. 8, 2023 The Winnsboro Department of Public Safety was notified by the SCDHEC Office of Law Enforcement in reference to a tip received through Crimestoppers of the Midlands in reference to illegal dumping, according to Winnsboro Department of Public Safety Police Chief Kevin Lawrence.
The SCDHEC Office of
Law Enforcement along with The Winnsboro Department of Public Safety followed
up on the tip and are jointly following up on the allegation.
The areas of Palmer and Garden Streets in the Town of Winnsboro is the focus of the illegal dumping and residents are being asked to avoid the area. At this time there is no current threat to the community and its residents, Lawrence said.
A spokesperson for DHEC provided the following statement to The Voice at the dig site Friday afternoon.
“DHEC and its contractor are performing an investigation at a site on West Palmer Street in Winnsboro. This investigation is based on information brought to DHEC’s attention that unknown materials were buried at this site. Several areas will be assessed and excavated as part of our investigation.
If containers are found, DHEC’s contractor will remove, sample and secure the contents. Additional assessment of other media, including soil and groundwater, will be performed if there are indications of any releases of hazardous substances. This investigation is being handled by DHEC’s Environmental Administration’s Office of Law Enforcement. This is an ongoing investigation. Additional information will be available after our investigation concludes.
The South Carolina Hazardous Waste Management Act requires hazardous materials to be properly disposed of in order to protect people’s health, as well as the environment.”
Town manager Jason Taylor said he is unable to comment on the situation at this time, but that the town is fully cooperating with the investigation.
More information will be posted when it becomes available.
