WINNSBORO – A recent rash of burglaries in vehicles parked in church parking lots during worship services has prompted Fairfield County Sheriff Will Montgomery to issue an advisory encouraging citizens and church members to be vigilant for suspicious activity on church properties in the county.
Someone burglarized a vehicle at a church in the Jenkinsville community on Sunday, March 10, stealing money and a pocketbook containing bank cards, the Sheriff’s office reported. The subject used the bank cards a short time later at the Dollar General in the Blair area.
Similar thefts also occurred in Lancaster County that same morning and are believed to have been committed by the same person, the Sheriff said. Surveillance cameras captured images of the suspect and his vehicle, believed to be a dark, possibly blue, Chevrolet Impala.
Catalytic converters (exhaust system parts) have also been taken from church vans/buses parked at several churches in Fairfield County in the past few weeks.
Sheriff Montgomery said he does not know if the suspect is involved with these thefts.
“We encourage everyone to be extra vigilant for suspicious activity at area churches and to contact the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office at 803-635-4141 if any suspicious activity is observed,” Montgomery said. “We also ask that anyone who recognizes the individual, or vehicle to contact us.”
WINNSBORO – The Fairfield County Sheriff’s office charged James Ruben Woodard, 29, with attempted murder after witnesses say he shot at a man who Woodard and another unidentified man had been arguing with. The incident occurred about 2 a.m., Nov. 25.
The victim reported that he had accused the unidentified man of stealing vehicles and other items from a yard on Ramble Drive.
Woodard
The incident report states that Woodard began defending the accused thief, then pulled a gun on the victim who tried to grab the gun from Woodard.
Unsuccessful in disarming Woodard, the victim ran into another yard. Witnesses told deputies that Woodard then got into a grey Mustang and pulled up onto Ramble Drive. The report states that Woodard again presented a gun and began firing on the victim. The victim stated that he ran and that Woodard pulled out of a driveway at a high rate of speed, then fled the scene in the vehicle going toward State Highway 269.
The victim stated that he believes the other man he was arguing with fled the scene on foot into the woods.
A bullet was recovered from a vehicle on scene and there was damage reported to other vehicles as well as to the residence on the Ramble Drive property where the shooting took place.
Woodard was arrested Dec. 7, and a judge denied bond to Woodard on that same date. He is being held at the Fairfield County Detention Center.
Fairfield County Sheriff Will Montgomery updated neighbors of the Cambio Academy last week on what his department is doing to keep residents safe from Cambio runaways who, Montgomery said, roam Greenbrier day and night causing damage, leaving residents fearful for their safety.
GREENBRIER- After making more than a hundred calls to Cambio Academy in the Greenbrier community since May and hearing from many residents about runaways from Cambio breaking and entering and causing property damage and harrassing Greenbrier residents, Sheriff Will Montgomery held a community meeting last week at Greenbrier United Methodist Church.
While Montgomery didn’t have a lot of answers, the Greenbrier neighbors had a lot of questions:
“What kind of in-house security does Cambio have?”
“What are you (the Sheriff) doing about this?
“What structure does Cambio have in place to keep these kids busy?”
The Sheriff’s answers:
“None.”
“I’m working on it.”
“Breaking and entering,” someone in the audience joked
There were numerous testimonials about property damage and runaway teens roaming the neighborhood day and night.
“How long is it going to be until something serious happens? That what worries me,” a woman from the audience said.
Another asked, “When one of these kids goes missing, why aren’t we notified?”
Montgomery suggested residents could sign up for the County’s reverse 911 service that will notify them of emergencies and that he will consider using the service for the Cambio issue.
Cambio Academy is located in Greenbrier.
Montgomery said that after talking with the Academy’s Director, Pamela Woods, he is trying to work out some type of security for the facility such as fencing or an alarm system that will alert management when a teen is leaving the facility.
Resident Laura Thomas suggested residents call the governor’s office to complain about the community chaos created by Cambio.
Asked how the facility got approval to operate in the County, Administrator Jason Taylor said Cambio representatives did not have to come before the County to ask for rezoning of the property.
“It was already zoned for that use,” Taylor said.
County Council Chairman Billy Smith addressed the process for getting the state to close the facility.
“Part of the process of trying to get them closed is to basically identify to them what problems they are causing, give them a period of time to fix those problems and then if they don’t, we can petition the court to grant an injunction to close it,” Smith said. “So it is very important that we have everything documented, anything that you are aware of, be sure to make those phone calls to the County or the Sheriff’s department. That will be the information we have to have to present to a judge.”
Another community meeting is set for Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 6 p.m. at Greenbrier Methodist Church to discuss the issue.
FAIRFIELD COUNTY – The Fairfield County Coroner’s Office along with the South Carolina Highway Patrol, are investigating a pedestrian fatality which occurred at 17895 Highway 34 West in Fairfield County at approximately 12:48 AM, on November 19, 2017.
Coroner Chris Hill states that Tavares Deantonio March, age 33, of 1517 Chappelltown Road in Winnsboro died from injuries received when he was struck by an oncoming vehicle.
The incident remains under investigation by the Fairfield County Coroner’s Office and South Carolina Highway Patrol.
WINNSBORO – Ricky Gibson, whose bid for Sheriff came up short in the Sept. 30 special election Democratic primary, has thrown his support behind Keith Lewis in advance of this Tuesday’s primary runoff. Lewis, currently Chief Deputy at the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office, faces Richland County deputy Will Montgomery in Tuesday’s vote.
“He’s already in office and in a position to keep the continuity of the department together,” Gibson said. “He will be able to address any issues straight from the start, instead of having to find out what the issues are. He has made a pledge that he will actively address any and all issues brought to him and I am taking him at his word.”
Gibson earned 925 votes in the Sept. 30 primary, good enough for a third-place finish behind Lewis’s 1,595 and Montgomery’s 1,613. Those votes will be highly coveted by both candidates leading up to Tuesday’s winner take all vote. Gibson said he and Lewis will hit the campaign trail this week to round up votes in areas where Lewis under-performed two weeks ago and focus on areas where turnout was soft.
“I feel in those areas people were reluctant to come out and vote,” Gibson said. “We have to stress the importance to the county of that vote.”
Gibson said he has known Lewis for nearly the entirety of Lewis’s 30-plus-year career and said he believes Lewis will be a unifying force for the county.
“I believe he will be able to unify the county, for the benefit of everyone in the county,” Gibson said.
Lewis was endorsed early in his campaign by outgoing Sheriff Herman Young, who stepped down in late July for health reasons. A special election to fill out the remaining two years on Young’s term will be held Nov. 18, but with no Republicans filing, Tuesday’s runoff will all but officially fill the position.
Montgomery, meanwhile, received the endorsement this week of his employer, Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott.
WINNSBORO – Voters failed to pick a clear winner in Tuesday’s primary for the special election for Fairfield County Sheriff. They did, however, narrow the field of candidates down to two.
Keith Lewis, currently the Chief Deputy for the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office, and Will Montgomery, a Richland County Sheriff’s deputy, will square off again in two weeks for a run-off. Lewis earned 1,595 votes in Tuesday’s primary pick-‘em, while Montgomery hauled in 1,613.
“I’m pleased with the turnout and hopefully it will happen again,” Montgomery said Tuesday night. “I am concerned about getting people out for the run-off.”
Looking ahead, Montgomery said his strategy was to “keep on moving like I’m moving and not slow down.”
Lewis, meanwhile, was more philosophical about the results and the pending mano a mano showdown.
“I want to thank all my supporters and ask them to please come back out in two weeks and do it again,” Lewis said. “My strategy moving forward is to continue doing what I’ve been doing and leave it in the Lord’s hands.”
Lewis said he had hoped the turnout would have been more robust, but said he understands the turnout challenges of a special election. Odell Glenn, who finished a distant fifth with only 95 votes, said the low turnout was “truly a shame in such an important election.”
Ricky Gibson finished third with 925 votes. John Seibles garnered 550 votes.
“The people’s voice has been heard,” Gibson said. “I wish them both well.”
Gibson and Seibles said they were not officially endorsing either of the remaining candidates at this time. Glenn, meanwhile, said he was throwing his support behind Montgomery.
Candidates for Fairfield County Sheriff at a recent Chamber of Commerce forum: Will Montgomery, Ricky Gibson, Odell Glenn, Keith Lewis and John Seibles.
WINNSBORO – All five candidates running for Fairfield County Sheriff answered questions in a forum at the Winnsboro Woman’s Club on Sept. 18. Participating were Ricky Gibson, a Fairfield County school resource officer; Odell Glenn, a Richland County investigator; Keith Lewis, the Chief Deputy of Fairfield County; Will Montgomery, a Richland County deputy; and John Seibles, a Major in the Town of Winnsboro Department of Public Safety. Although a set of questions had been sent to the candidates in advance by the event’s sponsor, the Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce, moderator Tyler Cup, after asking the candidates to introduce themselves, began with a question from a member of the audience.
What is the one thing that will change in the Sheriff’s office if you are elected Sheriff?
Seibles said the Sheriff’s office would better connect with the residents. “People need to trust us,” he said, and talked about ways to gain their trust, something he said he does in his job and in his neighborhood.
Lewis agreed that communication “is one of the biggest issues in every sheriff’s office in the country. If I do become Sheriff,” Lewis said, “I plan to meet at least every quarter with residents in one of the seven county districts and ask that district’s Council representative to go with me. We need to work together with the community.”
Glenn said he would fully invest in the community and families and put programs in place to assist families. He said that when kids get in trouble, families don’t always know what to look for or how to deal with their kids’ problems.
Gibson said resource allocation would change. “Management of our manpower is insufficient.” He suggested split shifts, “so there is a minimum of four people covering an area at all times.”
Montgomery said he would put more manpower on the roads by cutting the county into three areas (east, middle and west) and assign deputies to each of those districts and hold them accountable to each district.
Asked their thoughts on spousal abuse and what they could do about it, Lewis said his department currently works closely with Sistercare to give victims of domestic abuse a way out. “It often gets back to economics,” Lewis said. “They are locked in and don’t have any place to go. We need to open up the doors to help them.” Lewis also said that while his deputies make domestic violence arrests every day, about 75 percent of the cases are dropped to a simple assault charge or end up in a lower court where nothing is done.
Glenn agreed that victims of domestic abuse are often trapped and don’t have the financial ability to get out. He called for more victim services outlets and a better way to report domestic abuse.
Gibson, a pastor, called for better education for women and, “We need to tap into the church with this issue,” he said. He also said business and industry are sometimes reluctant to come in when the crime rate is high.
Montgomery said he would train deputies to know how to handle a domestic abuse case. “You must have the evidence to make a case.” He said it is also important to educate the public to report domestic abuse.
Seibles said South Carolina is No. 2 in domestic violence and that, if elected Sheriff, he would connect with pastors in the community. “That would make our job a lot easier. We need community leaders with a spiritual side.”
Fairfield County has been open and transparent with the public in the past. If you become Sheriff, will you continue this openness?
Glenn stressed the importance of transparency in the Sheriff’s office. “There is no reason for (the public) to not know what we’re doing. Transparency will be my Job No. 1,” Glenn said.
Gibson, too, said transparency would be the order of the day if he is elected Sheriff. “I believe there are times, such as an ongoing investigation, when we cannot be open about something,” Gibson said. “But after it’s over, we must open up. Transparency is better served when we realize we should be held to a higher level.”
Seibles agreed with Glenn and Gibson on the importance of transparency in the Sheriff’s office and said, “If the citizens trust you enough, I think they will know that we will let every bit of information out that we can.”
Lewis also championed transparency, saying, “When you’re using taxpayers’ money, they have a right to know what’s going on.” He also said when (law enforcement) makes a mistake, they must admit it openly. “A Sheriff’s only as good as his Indians,” Lewis said, adding that the Sheriff must lead by example. “If the Sheriff treats the public right, his men are going to see that and treat the public right.”
Montgomery said he thought transparency was important, but side-stepped the transparency question, and instead referenced his boss, Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott, saying he had watched Lott gain the trust of the community and was part of that. “We have to have unity in the community. Without that we don’t have nothing.”
Why do you think you are the best man for the job of Fairfield County Sheriff?
Gibson said he would bring common sense to the job. “I will be open, no hidden agendas. I can motivate the workers to do better. I will come out and talk to the people and address their concerns. We must hold ourselves above reproach. I want this job because I know what I can do,” Gibson said.
Montgomery said this is his third time to run for the office. “I really want it,” he said. “It’s my life-long goal. I’m a proven leader. My education speaks for itself. I was there for my people (in Richland County) and I’ll be there for you. I’m a hard worker.”
Seibles said he is not looking for a job or a career. “I have a heart to serve and this is a way of life for me.” He referenced his spiritual faith, his closeness to the community and his ability to build trust. He expressed confidence in his ability to carry out the duties of the office of Sheriff and rested his trust in God. “It’s truly an honor to serve the community. I’m very thankful for that opportunity.”
Glenn said he was the best choice for Sheriff because of his 20 years of leadership experience, management skills, being in charge of large organizations and making decisions that can mean life or death. “Being a crime victim myself made me want to go into law enforcement,” Glenn said. “I will be the Sheriff you can depend on to be in your community and in your neighborhood. I will bring energy and advanced skills. I know how to make the tough decisions.”
Lewis said, “It’s hard for me to stand up here and say I’m a better candidate than these men. They are all good people. But let me tell you what I can about me.” He said there’s more to being Sheriff than the duties of the office. “It’s the responsibility of the Sheriff to help assure that the County is a productive, healthy, safe place to live,” and he said Fairfield County is on the doorstep of economic growth and that the crime rate plays a big role in economic development. “Our crime rate is 34 percent, one of the lowest in the state and better than some of the surrounding counties. In the next two years we could become one of the best law enforcement agencies in the state.”
A second forum for the Sheriff candidates was held last evening in Ridgeway. The special election for Sheriff will be held this Tuesday, Sept. 30.
Investigators with the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office are hoping that partial skeletal remains discovered Saturday morning may put to rest a 2-year old missing persons case.
The Sheriff’s Office said the remains, discovered by a timber crew off Hope Road in Fairfield County, may be those of William Ira Pound Jr., the 54-year-old Batesburg-Leesville man who hasn’t been seen since Nov. 29, 2010. Pound’s family told news outlets in 2010 that he had intended to visit his mother in a Fairfield County nursing home that day. The following day, Pound’s car was found wrecked on Old River Road, about 1 mile east of I-77, but a search of the area, aided by thermal image scans of the surroundings, failed to turn up a driver. At the time of the recovery of the vehicle, Pound had not been reported missing, and the car was thought to have been abandoned and was towed from the scene.
Pound’s wife, Sharon Pound, reported him missing to the Lexington County Sheriff’s Office Dec. 11, but it wasn’t until January 2011 that a Ridgeway salvage yard connected Pound’s name to the wrecked vehicle on his lot. A witness later came forward and reported seeing a man matching Pound’s description walking down Hope Road on the day of the accident, approximately 2 miles from where the car was recovered. The witness said the man was missing one shoe and had a towel wrapped around his head. More than 40 volunteers searched an 8-mile area for days following the report, with no luck.
Capt. Brad Douglas of the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office said the remains have been sent to the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) for testing and identification. It was not known at press time when results of those tests would be available.
The manhunt for the Winnsboro Department of Public Safety officer wanted for the attempted murder of his estranged wife ended Thursday evening near the Fairfield/Chester county line with a single gunshot.
Thom Berry, spokesperson for the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) said Michael Bernard Roseboro shot himself one time in the chest after Fairfield County Chief Deputy Keith Lewis located Roseboro at Camp Welfare off Arrowhead Road near Great Falls just before 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Roseboro was transported by ambulance to Palmetto Health Richland with non-life-threatening injuries.
Roseboro faces a charge of attempted murder for the Oct. 28 shooting of his estranged wife outside her home on 8th Street in Winnsboro. According to the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office, Roseboro was on duty with the Department of Publics Safety Oct. 28 when he drove his patrol car to the home of his estranged wife, Keisha Roseboro, at 148 8th St. and shot her around 9:15 p.m. with his service weapon. Roseboro fled the scene in his patrol car, setting off a search that lasted throughout the night. The patrol car was found abandoned the following morning at approximately 9:30 at a Masonic Lodge on Highway 21 near Great Falls, approximately 1.5 miles from the Chester County line.
Keisha Roseboro, an administrative sergeant with the Fairfield County Detention Center, was transported to Palmetto Richland Hospital following the shooting and was last listed in stable condition.
Roseboro had been spotted earlier Thursday afternoon at the home of his sister off Highway 21, a few miles from Camp Welfare, initiating another massive search by SLED agents. Berry said Lewis was assisting SLED agents as they combed Camp Welfare Thursday evening. Lewis spotted Roseboro and attempted to coax him into surrender. The other SLED agents in the field picked up on the conversation and were closing in on Roseboro, Berry said, when Roseboro drew his gun and shot himself in the chest.
Roseboro had been with the Department of Public Safety for three months, WDPS Chief Freddie Lorick said last week. Roseboro had also served with the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office from 2001 to 2010, first as a deputy and finally as an investigator.
The Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a break-in of D & D Foundry on Highway 200 that netted burglars $2,500 in tools and other items between Oct. 9 and Oct. 10.
Investigators were called to the foundry on the morning of Oct. 10 where an employee had found the business had been entered through a back door. Burglars stole an air compressor, pieces of casting aluminum and several brass valves. During the process, suspects left behind several shoe prints on the ground outside the foundry, as well as a clear set of tire tracks.
This was not the first time the business has been burglarized, the Sheriff’s Office said, and the incident remains under investigation.
Someone burglarized a vehicle at a church in the Jenkinsville community on Sunday, March 10, stealing money and a pocketbook containing bank cards, the Sheriff’s office reported. The subject used the bank cards a short time later at the Dollar General in the Blair area.
