Kidnapped child found safe

Lexington County deputies have arrested a man in connection to a motor vehicle theft with a child inside last Wednesday.

Roberto Lee Herrera, 39, was apprehended after deputies located him driving a vehicle reported stolen at the intersection of Platt Springs and Ramblin Road in West Columbia.

“Deputies responded to a call shortly after noon after a vehicle was reported stolen with a young child inside,” Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said. “A woman entered ‘The Store,’ a gas station at the corner of Highway 6 and Mimosa Drive in Gaston.” When she returned to the parking lot, the vehicle was missing, according to Koon.

Deputies circulated the surrounding neighborhoods and located the vehicle 30 minutes later. The child, 3, was found unharmed and reunited with her mother.

“Thanks to the swift actions of our deputies, a little girl will be with her family tonight,” Koon said.

Detectives said charges for Herrera are forthcoming.

‘Minister’ robbed County woman

Self-proclaimed minister and Apostle, Wendell Freeman, 61, of Columbia, has been sentenced to prison for taking a Lexington County woman’s life savings.

Freeman conned his victim out of $20,000.

The State argued that Freeman’s portraying himself as a man of God to gain the victim’s trust made the crime particularly bad.

Judge Frank Addy sentenced Freeman to 9 years in prison and 10 years for committing securities fraud as he carried out his scheme.

The judge ordered him to serve 9 years in prison. The additional 10 years will be suspended to 5 years of probation, during which he must pay restitution to the victim.

Freeman, who was present in the courtroom, was taken into custody without incident.

Attorney General Wilson, who also serves as South Carolina’s Securities Commissioner, emphasized the importance of prosecutions such as this one.

“Investment fraud can be every bit as devastating as losses from other types of crimes. For seniors, the outcome is especially devastating due to the fact that they have less time to make up for their losses,” Wilson said.

Murder suspect captured in Cayce

A fugitive murder suspect was captured in Cayce last Friday morning.

Byron Blair Watkins, 25, is accused of killing Lucero Sosa Capote in front of her 5 children during a Monroe, NC home invasion earlier this month.

2 of the children received minor injuries while Capote fought off the intruders.

US Marshals Operation Intercept Fugitive Task Force (OPIN) arrested Watkins at a residence off of Congaree Road in Cayce shortly after midnight July 26.

Watkins was charged with homicide by the Monroe Police Department in connection to the deadly home invasion at 1603 Tower Court on July 12.

He is charged with 1st degree murder, 1st degree burglary, robbery with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, discharge a firearm in an occupied dwelling, and assault on a child under 12, according to a press release.

Members of the OPIN surrounded the residence in Cayce after being advised Watkins had fled to NC.

Police and marshals called out for Watkins to surrender. Watkins complied with demands and was taken into custody without incident in the backyard of the residence.

Watkins was booked into the Lexington County jail.

Police said a 2nd suspect, 19-year-old Antwan David Sturdivant, turned himself in to Monroe police a few days earlier.

A gofundme page has been set up online to help the Capote family. Search “She Died Protecting Her Kids Go Fund Me” to donate.

1 dead in car crash

1 person died after a car ran off the road and hit a house in Lexington County Sunday.

Myron W. Riley, 61, of Swansea, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Troopers say Riley, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the vehicle.

The collision happened at 6:35 pm on SC 6, according to the SC Highway Patrol. State troopers say the car was traveling west when it went off the right side of the road, struck a ditch, and collided with a home.

Motorcyclist dies on Lake Murray dam

A Gilbert man died Monday night when his motorcycle collided with an 18-wheeler on the Lake Murray Dam.

According to Coroner Fisher, John William Bafford III, 32, of Gilbert was pronounced dead at the scene due to injuries sustained in the collision.

Bafford, who was not wearing a helmet, was traveling westbound when he crossed the center line and collided head-on with the 18-wheeled tractor trailer.

The driver of the 18-wheeler was transported to an area hospital with reportedly non-life-threatening injuries.

The South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating the collision.

Naked man steals police cruiser

A burglary suspect was arrested Monday after he stole a West Columbia police cruiser and crashed it.

Mark Donovan Barlow, 26, of West Columbia, has been charged with burglary 2nd degree, breaking into motor vehicle (3 counts), grand larceny and failure to stop on police command.

Witnesses said the Barlow was naked when he fled.

West Columbia officers responded to a burglary in progress on White Avenue shortly after noon.

When officers arrived on scene, the suspect matching the description fled the scene on foot through the woods. A K9 team was called to assist.

During the search, the suspect doubled back, locating a marked West Columbia police car. The vehicle was locked but the window was lowered.

Barlow got in the vehicle and fled the scene.

The vehicle was then involved in an accident in the parking lot of 2314 Charleston Highway in Lexington County.

The suspect fled that scene and was involved in another accident at the 2400 block of Charleston Highway in the City of Cayce.

The suspect was taken into custody by the Cayce Department of Public Safety.