County high school robbed

A burglary occurred at Pelion High School Sunday, Oct. 13.

2 guitars and one set of tenor drums was stolen.

The school band was still able to compete in the Lower State Marching Band Championships taking place the following Saturday.

The district encourages students and their parents who may know any information about the break in to report that information to a school administrator, School Resource Officer, school counselor, teacher or other employee.

Students, parents and others can report information anonymously at the district’s tip line 803-636-8317.

Students can access the tip line online, by telephone, by texting information or by emailing details of your concern to 1607@alert1.us.com .

Indecent exposure suspect caught

Police have arrested the man wanted for indecent exposure in an Oct. 8 incident.

Larry Brown, 33, of Orangeburg, is charged with indecent exposure, failure to stop for blue lights, failure to obey police officer, operating an unsafe vehicle and 2 counts of reckless driving.

Brown allegedly exposed himself to a female victim at the Lexington Place shopping center on Sunset Blvd.

An anonymous caller assisted in pinpointing Brown within Orangeburg County after Brown fled from police. Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Department was able to locate and transport him to their local detention center.

Officers of Lexington Police Department retrieved and transported Brown to Lexington County Detention Center.

Brown is awaiting a bond hearing, according to LPD.

Police chase ends in multi-car crash

A chase involving a stolen car ended in a massive crash on Sunset Boulevard in West Columbia, Oct. 17.

The pursuit began at approximately 3:20 pm in the Broad River Road and Bush River Road area, according to the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.

Deputies attempted to pull over a car believed to be stolen. The driver fled and the chase began.

The pursuit went from Richland County to Lexington and several cars were hit, according to the RCSD report.

The driver of the alleged stolen car crashed at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Cougar Drive, at the entrance to Northside Middle School and Riverbank Elementary, in West Columbia.

Northside Middle School was put on lockdown until the scene was under control by the West Columbia Police Department and other law enforcement personnel.

Parents picking up students were stuck at the school for a while due to all the emergency personnel and the blockage caused by the wrecked cars.

Sean Riley, 23, was driving the stolen car said RCSD. He is being charged with of possession of a stolen vehicle, failure to stop, felony in possession of a firearm, possession of a stolen firearm, and unlawful carry and assault.

Albert Brisbon, 30, was also arrested and charged with open container and possession of a controlled substance. Both were taken to the hospital to be checked out before jail, deputies said. Others were also taken to the hospital.

The eastbound lanes of Sunset Boulevard reopened by 6 pm.

Lexington man convicted for trafficking heroin, cocaine

Carlitos Molina, 48, of Lexington, was sentenced by US District Judge Victor A. Bolden to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by 5 years of supervised release for trafficking heroin and cocaine into Connecticut.

In December 2018, the Drug Enforcement Administration learned that Molina was transporting kilogram-quantities of heroin and cocaine to Connecticut from his home in South Carolina.

Molina and his nephew, Efrain Molina, then sold the drugs in and around Bridgeport, Conn.

According to law enforcement, Molina has an extensive criminal history and was on parole in the State of Georgia for trafficking methamphetamine. He faces the remaining 10 years of a 20-year state sentence when he is released from federal custody.

Efrain Molina pleaded guilty on October 8, 2019, and is awaiting sentencing.

Gaston man dies in traffic collision

Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher has identified the man who died in a traffic collision in Swansea Sunday morning.

William R. Watts, 77, of Gaston was pronounced dead at an area hospital due to his injuries.

Watts was traveling south on Whetstone Road around 9:40 am when a vehicle in front of him slowed to pull off of the road to the left. Watts struck the side of that vehicle as he attempted to pass it.

Watts, who was not wearing a seat belt, then traveled off of the roadway, overturned, and struck a utility pole.

The driver of the other vehicle was not injured.