WINNSBORO -The Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office and Crime Stoppers need your help identifying the suspect(s) who set fire to a residence in Fairfield County. On November 14, 2017, the residence at 4623 Reservoir Road was set on fire between 5 a.m. and 3 p.m. with minimal damage to the exterior. On December 2, 2017, the same residence was set on fire between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m.. The residence was a complete loss.
If you know something about this case, you can provide information anonymously. Your tip could earn you a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of the person responsible for this crime. Call toll-free, 888-CRIME-SC, log onto: www.midlandscrimestoppers.com, and click on the red “Submit a tip” tab or, download the new P3 Tips App for Apple or Android devices. Information can also be provided directly to Investigator Karen Castles with the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office at 803-635-4141.
RIDGEWAY – An undercover prostitution sting conducted by a tri-county task force that included the Fairfield County and Richland County Sheriffs’ Departments at the Ramada Inn in Ridgeway last Friday and Saturday night netted 16 arrests for prostitution and/or possession of drugs and/or possession with intent to distribute.
Using the Backpage website, undercover officers made contact with the individuals via phone who arranged sexual encounters and drug deals at the Ramada Inn located at Exit 34 off I-77 where the offenders were subsequently arrested.
Brad Edmond Howard, 38, and Melinda Medlin Leonard, 57, of Lexington; Amanda Elizabeth Jackson, 27; Ciara Shantae Palmer, 38, and George Stabler, 45, all of Columbia; Julio Cesar Morales, 33, and Shannon Franklin, 48, of West Columbia; Carlisha Shawashki, 31, of Cayce; and Nicholas Stack, 18, (address unknown), were each charged with prostitution and released on a $470 personal recognizance bond.
Tara Nicole Prince, 38, of Winnsboro was charged with prostitution and possession of two grams of heroin with intent to distribute. She remains in the Fairfield County Detention Center on a $5,000 bond for the heroin charge and a personal recognizance bond of $470 for the prostitution charge.
Two men, Damian Jujuan Swafford, 30, of Charleston and Paul Antonio Roberts, 34, of Lexington were identified in the incident report as drivers who were arrested for assisting in the solicitation process of two of the women charged. Swafford and Roberts were each released on $470 personal recognizance bonds.
Tyrone Brenton Lane, 27, and Tyquan Torrez Matthews, 20, both of Columbia, were charged with possession of narcotics with intent to distribute. Each was released on a $5,000 bond.
Adrian Keiwan Hammond, 40, of Columbia was charged with possession of cocaine base and marijuana. Ashley Nicole Werts, 30, of Elgin was charged with possession of an oxycodone pill. Each was released on a $5,000 bond.
BLYTHEWOOD – A 17-year-old has been accused of threatening to “shoot up” Westwood High School Friday morning, according to the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.
Hilliard
On Feb 16, at approximately 8 a.m., the Sheriff’s Department was alerted to a Twitter post made by Hilliard threatening Westwood. He was charged with unlawful communication and disturbing schools, Sheriff Leon Lott said in a news release.
Hilliard turned himself into investigators at the Richland County Sheriff’s Department Headquarters for what was termed by the RCSD Public Information office as “not a credible threat” and was arrested without incident. He was released on a $1,000 bond.
The Richland County Sheriff’s Department is still investigating.
BLYTHEWOOD – Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott announces the arrest of Kameron Hilliard, charged with unlawful communication and disturbing schools.
On Feb. 16, at approximately 8:00AM citizens alerted the Richland County Sheriff’s Department to a Twitter post made by Hilliard threatening to shoot up Westwood High School. Hilliard turned himself into investigators at the Richland County Sheriff’s Department Headquarters and was arrested without incident.
The Sheriff stated that social media threats are taken very serious and will be prosecuted. Hilliard has been charged as an adult and transported to Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.
WINNSBORO – Over the past 12 hours, there have been rumors of threats of violence toward multiple schools throughout South Carolina, to include a school in Fairfield County (Fairfield Central High School). The Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office has been investigating these rumors since they have surfaced and have found no substantiated or credible threats thus far. However, in the interest of alleviating any concerns and/or fears that students, staff, and parents may have, the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office is providing an increased law enforcement presence in our schools throughout the day.
Sheriff Montgomery: “Although these are just unconfirmed rumors, we want to ensure everyone that we do take these seriously. I’ve directed our personnel to have an increased presence in our schools today. While many counties are dealing with this same issue this morning, we should always err on the side of caution, especially when these types of rumors involve our children. Again, I want to ensure everyone that our increased presence on school campuses today is merely a safety precaution. We have no reason to believe that there has been a direct threat to any of our schools.”
WINNSBORO – A wild-west drive-by shoot ‘em up that occurred around 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 5, on Columbia Road behind the Bi-Lo Shopping Center, ended with a gunshot victim and three arrests, two of them for attempted murder.
According to the incident report, three men in a Buick Park Avenue on Highway 321 Bypass suspected that an older model, light-colored Buick had begun following them from the EXXON station on Highway 321.
Geiger
A 17-year-old, one of two male passengers in the Park Avenue, stated that the driver of that car, Tykavious Sampson, 24, turned into the Deerwood Apartment complex in Winnsboro to determine if the older Buick was, indeed, following them. The Park Avenue turned back onto Highway 321 Bypass, then into the Bi-Lo Shopping Center parking lot and then on to Columbia Road. The older Buick followed, according to witnesses.
A witness who spoke with Sheriff’s deputies in the BI-LO parking lot following the incident, reported that the older Buick then pulled alongside the Park Avenue while on Columbia Road. An occupant in the older Buick opened fire with a handgun on the occupants of the Park Avenue, which suddenly braked after the shots were fired. Different witnesses reported hearing three to five shots.
Sampson sustained a gunshot wound in the side according to the incident report.
The second passenger in the Park Avenue, Gregory Alexander Javins, who was riding in the back seat, said the older Buick then sped off towards Highway 321 By-Pass.
The witness in the parking lot stated that a person got out of the Park Avenue and ran behind the BI-LO Shopping Center and then to the BI-LO, the incident report stated. Deputies stated they later found a 22-caliber rifle behind the BI-LO believed to belong to the occupants of the Park Avenue.
The Fairfield County Sheriff’s Department was able to obtain a photo of both vehicles from security cameras as they passed by the front door of the BI-LO.
Marshawn Devon Geiger, 19; Anthony Leo Green, Jr., 20; and Jawine William Ivery, 22, all believed to be occupants in the older Buick, were arrested on Feb. 6. Geiger has multiple charges including attempted murder. He was denied bond and remains in the Fairfield County Detention Center.
Green was also charged with attempted murder and was released on a $20,000 surety bond.
Ivery was charged with misprision (neglect to report a crime) and released on a $5,000 personal recognizance bond. According to the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Department, the shooting is still under investigation.
BLYTHEWOOD – The Town and residents will take part in the annual Black History Month celebration this Saturday night, Feb. 17 with performances by the Westwood High School Dancers, the Round Top Baptist Church Youth Choir and EboniRamm and Band.
The celebration, which will be emceed by performer EboniRamm, will be held again this year in the Doko Manor, from 1:30 to 4 p.m.
This year’s theme will be Stitching History Together which has been coordinated by the Blythewood Historical Society and will feature an African-American community quilt made from quilt squares brought in by local citizens.
The 5” x 5” squares will contain the name of the person associated with the square as well as a brief history of the piece that might be from a grandfather’s old work shirt, part of an old apron belonging to a grandmother, a piece of an ancestor’s party dress, etc. Anyone with a quilt piece they would like to be included in the community quilt can bring them to the Langford-Nord House (Blythewood Historical Society) through Saturday. The quilt-making will be showcased during the Black History event.
Doko Manor is located at 171 Langford Road, and the Langford-Nord House is located at 100 McNulty St.
Town Councilman Eddie Baughman lends his support to almost 200 community members who oppose commercial zoning on Rimer Pond Road. They met at the Windermere Club to help their County Council representative Gwendolyn Kennedy understand their plight. | Barbara Ball
BLYTHEWOOD – Almost 200 residents in the Rimer Pond Road, LongCreek Plantation and Eagles Glen neighborhoods showed up, many wearing red in solidarity, at the Windermere Club last week to express to their County Council representative the myriad reasons they do not want commercial zoning on Rimer Pond Road.
Columbia resident Hugh Palmer has requested Neighborhood Commercial zoning for 5.23 acres his family owns across from Blythewood Middle School. Neither Palmer nor his son Patrick attended the meeting. Patrick Palmer, who recently resigned after serving 12 years on the Richland County Planning Commission, actively promotes the rezoning request and had the property listed with his real estate company two years ago for $3.5 million.
Richland County Councilwoman Gwendolyn Kennedy, who represents the area where the commercial zoning is requested, did attend and heard two hours of impassioned pleas from residents. Blythewood Town Council member Eddie Baughman and Mayor J. Michael Ross also attended and called on Kennedy to keep commercial zoning out of the area.
Asked at one point by Jerry Rega, the meeting organizer, if there was anyone at the meeting who wanted to speak in favor of commercial, no one did.
Patrice Matthews said a convenience store could be in her back yard.
While the residents were of one accord, they had a tricky course to navigate. Although Kennedy represents the area, she is the only one of the 11 County Council members who voted against the residents last year when the issue came before Council.
Until this meeting, Kennedy has not accepted or responded to invitations to meet with the residents. Many residents who emailed Kennedy said they never got an answer. Kennedy confirmed at the meeting that she leaves that to her 10-year-old grandson.
Speaker after speaker told Kennedy they did not need or want commercial conveniences brought into their area.
At one point, Kennedy asked the incredulous audience, “Have these thoughts been expressed previously?”
“Once this property is zoned commercial of any kind, one of the criteria for future zoning will be, ‘Commercial zoning is next door or close by.’ Then you have to consider it,” one speaker said to Kennedy. “And the properties on the corners around this property are just waiting.”
LongCreek Plantation resident Tracy Courson handed out pages of annual security statistics compiled by the Richland County Sheriff’s office that show how students under 17 are more likely to be involved in incidents involving the police when schools, even elementary schools, in proximity to commercial entities.
Examples of schools not located next to commercial entities include Blythewood Middle School with 7 such incidents and Round Top Elementary with 14 incidents. Examples of schools that are next to or across the street from commercial entities include Sandlapper (52 incidents), Dentsville Middle (91 incidents) and Rice Creek Elementary (67 incidents).
LongCreek Estates resident Patrick Whiddon rattled off the numbers of murders, shoplifting and robberies that occurred at the Sharpe Shoppe, Domino’s and Circle K, all in the Lee Road/Longtown Road commercial area; as well as crimes committed at commercialized corners on Hardscrabble with Spinx, CVS and Walgreens.
“I work in law enforcement,” said one attendee, “and more crimes happen in areas with commercial buildings.”
“While Mr. Palmer says gas stations are not allowed under Neighborhood Commercial zoning, which is the zoning he is requesting for the property across from Blythewood Middle School,” Woodlake Farms resident Shannon Fields said, “convenience stores with gas pumps are allowed. It’s the same thing.”
“This property that Mr. Palmer wants to zone commercial is in our back yard,” Patrice Matthews said. “Once you bring commercial zoning next to homes, you open the gate for other things besides homes, churches and schools to come in to our neighborhood. It’s a slippery slope. I’m nervous about it.”
One Coatsbridge resident who said the Palmers’ property borders her property said her family is military and her husband is deployed.
“My children and I are there by ourselves for long periods and I would not feel safe living next to a convenience store,” the woman said, her voice trembling. “This is not what we want for our family or our community. You were elected to help provide safety for us, take care of us. If you vote for this commercial zoning, you are not taking care of us.”
Another woman pointed out that there are many empty commercial buildings strewn about the outskirts of the neighborhood, and that more commercial businesses are not needed.
“We don’t want another Hardscrabble nightmare on Longtown Road,” Mary Hoffman said. “There are already many empty stores and offices nearby. We don’t need commercial zoning out here. We love that it’s still semi-rural, and we want to keep it that way,” Hoffman said.
Blythewood Councilman Eddie Baughman, who also serves as Mayor pro tem, said commercial development on Rimer Pond Road would not improve the quality of life for anyone in the room.
“These folks’ commercial needs are provided for in Blythewood, the Sandhills, on Killian Road and Hardscrabble. We, as the Town of Blythewood, support these residents. They don’t want or need this proposed commercial zoning,” Baughman said as he was drowned out by thunderous applause.
Scott Galloway asked Kennedy what the decision maker will be for her when she votes.
“I base my decision on how it [commercial zoning] will affect the community and how it will benefit Richland County,” Kennedy said. She said the County staff had shown her the feasibility of going ahead with Palmer’s rezoning and what needs to be done in the area.
Asked how the commercial zoning would benefit the county, Kennedy said she would hear what County Zoning Administrator Geonardo Price had to say on that at a separate meeting. Pressed for an answer, Kennedy said the things that would be good for the county were written on a paper she held in her hand.
When asked to reveal what things were on the paper, Kennedy declined to answer.
Asked if she had heard from any residents in the affected area who were in favor of the commercial zoning requested by Palmer, Kennedy was hesitant, then said she had not.
“You have the chance to do the right thing and vote for the people or you have the chance to vote for the landowner who stands to make $3.5 million,” Hair said to Kennedy.
“I encourage the community to flood County Council members with emails every day,” Ross said after thanking Kennedy for her attendance. “Do it over and over, telling them that you don’t want, don’t need commercial zoning out here. It just does not fit.”
Because Kennedy waited until after the residents had spoken to defer the vote on the matter during a County Council public hearing on Dec. 19, residents will be in the unique position of not being allowed to address Council prior to its first vote on the requested commercial zoning during the Tuesday, Feb. 27 meeting.
“That is a huge blow to our efforts,” Hair said. “But all the council members except Ms. Kennedy voted with us last year and, really, Council has been with us every time this issue has come before them. They have never let us down, and we are trusting that they will be with us again, and Ms. Kennedy, too.”
The commercial zoning request will come before County Council on Feb. 27, at 7 p.m., in Council Chambers in the County building at Harden and Hampton Streets. The agenda and packet for the meeting should be available from the County the week prior to the meeting. To obtain a copy of the agenda and the entire meeting packet via email, call Tommy Delage at 576-2172 or email him at delaget@rcgov.us or call 576-2190.
WINNSBORO – After receiving legal advice in executive session Monday evening regarding potential opioid litigation on behalf of Fairfield County, Council returned to public session and voted to join a lawsuit being brought by Savage, Royall & Sheheen L.L.P of Camden.
“This firm is filing suits on behalf of a number of counties to recover losses occurring from us having to deal with the opioid epidemic,” County Administrator Jason Taylor said. “They are going after drug companies because of the cost of such things as sheriff’s calls, ambulance calls and all other costs resulting from opioid use.”
Taylor said the suit is not a class action suit, but the law firm is suing on behalf of the individual counties. As to what extent Fairfield County is affected by opioid use, Taylor said the law firm will begin gathering statewide statistics and looking at national statistics and extrapolating those downward.
“Then they will look specifically at Fairfield County,” Taylor said.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, opioids are a class of drugs that include the illegal drug heroin, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and pain relievers available legally by prescription, such as oxycodone (OxyContin®), hydrocodone (Vicodin®), codeine, morphine, and many others. These drugs are chemically related and interact with opioid receptors on nerve cells in the body and brain and can produce euphoria in addition to pain relief, according to the Institute.
The Voice left a voice message on Wednesday with the Sheriff’s department asking about the overall extent of the use or misuse of opioids in Fairfield County, but the department had not responded at press time.
FAIRFIELD COUNTY – Adam Reed Williamson, 31, of Ridgeway was the driver of a GMC Envoy that was involved in a single vehicle accident that occurred on Rockbridge Road in Fairfield County at approximately 7 p.m., Feb. 7, resulting in his death.
In a separate accident, Willie R. Belk, 45, of Blackstock, was inside a 2003 Cadillac that was involved in a single vehicle accident on Old Douglas Road in Fairfield County that resulted in his death. The accident occurred at 2:10 p.m. on Feb. 11.
Both accidents remain under investigation by the Fairfield County Coroner’s Office and the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
COLUMBIA – Fairfield County residents and Hoof and Paw Benevolent Society board members Paula Spinale, left, and Kathy Faulk and Blythewood resident and board member Deborah Richelle, right, joined Rep. MaryGail Douglas at the Humane Society Lobby Day at the State House in Columbia last week where they witnessed the Senate’s vote to pass the animal welfare bill S841 that addresses tethering, shelter restrictions and myriad issues of animal cruelty.
