Police search for fetal remains

Lexington and Columbia police are searching for the buried remains of a human fetus.

Several sources tipped off Lexington Police Monday that a fetus had been delivered by a woman at her residence in Lexington. Sources said she took the fetus to a residence in Columbia where it was buried.

A search warrant for the residence and property at 2315 Wallace Street was executed.

The investigation was ongoing there at time of publication.

Gaston police chief resigns

Town of Gaston Police Chief Shawn Mohundro has resigned.

He turned in his letter of resignation to Mayor Troy Bivens, effective Sept. 18.

A reliable source told the Chronicle that the mayor had asked him to resign.

No reason was given.

Major Stephen Watkins will act as interim chief until the next regularly scheduled Town Council meeting Oct. 6 at 7 pm.

The public is invited.

Deputies respond to Darrell Hudson residence

Lexington County sheriff’s deputies responded Lexington County Councilman Darrell Hudson’s Keller Pond Drive residence Saturday night after receiving a request to do a welfare check.

According to the sheriff’s department’s spokesman Captain Adam Myrick, family had called them after a man inside the home, “Wasn’t acting like himself.”

Family members became worried about him and made the call for assistance, Paul Kirby of the Lexington Ledger reported.

Myrick later confirmed that deputies were on that scene at 10 pm.

He said that deputies had been trying to establish a line of communication with a man who was inside the home.

Another law enforcement official confirmed that man had originally declined to come out of the home.

The situation was resolved later in the night. Captain Myrick said that deputies were preparing to leave the scene just after 11 pm Saturday.

Hudson represents Council District 3, including most of Lexington, areas west of the town around Lexington High School, and some of the shores of Lake Murray.

Wanted man, 2 others arrested in Red Bank

Lexington County deputies found a man wanted for burglary and made 2 other arrests Friday at a Red Bank home.

Jeffrey Adam Flowers, 28, is accused of 2nd degree burglary, according to arrest warrants. Deputies also arrested Michael Lee Pendleton, 28, and Cynara Deshay Davis, 30, as they searched for Flowers at a home in the 2000 block of South Lake Drive, the Sheriff’s Office announced Sunday night.

Deputies were looking for Flowers on an active warrant for a previous burglary charge, Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said.

Pendleton was arrested on a bench warrant and narcotics warrant from a neighboring jurisdiction.

Davis is charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute after deputies found marijuana, a digital scale and packaging items in a bag she was carrying when deputies arrived at the South Lake Drive home.

All 3 were arrested on the scene and transported to the Lexington County Detention Center. Davis has been released after meeting the conditions of her bond.

Children found in home of drug trafficker

A man already on house arrest for drug tracking was arrested last week on more drug-related charges.

Joseph Sinclair Cromer, 29, of Irmo, was arrested at his home in Friarsgate for trafficking cocaine, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, and unlawful conduct toward a child.

Cromer was taken into custody at his residence by Irmo Police, SLED agents and Spartanburg County deputies.

During the execution of a search warrant, investigators located drugs, a gun and over $42,000 in cash.

Also inside the home during this incident were 5 children ranging from ages 6-years old to 14-years old.

Cromer is booked in Richland County at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.

Traffic stop leads to drug charges

Lexington County deputies arrested a man last week on drug charges after a traffic stop.

Maxie Paul Wagner, 33, is charged with trafficking meth, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of cocaine and failure to stop for blue lights, according to arrest warrants.

“Deputies tried to stop Wagner in the 5000 block of Platt Springs Road after seeing multiple traffic violations,” Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said.

“He didn’t stop for blue lights and initiated a short pursuit of about a mile before he pulled over and stopped.”

Wagner was placed under arrest for failure to stop for blue lights.

Deputies found 140 grams of meth, a small amount of cocaine, THC wax, distribution levels of marijuana and more than $3,000 dollars in cash in Wagner’s vehicle.

Wagner was transported to the Lexington County Detention Center where he is being held while he waits for a bond hearing.

Body found at 1-20 rest area

Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher has identified the body of an individual found at a rest area of Interstate 20.

Walter R. Payne Jr., 69, of New London, Ohio, was found deceased September 23, at an abandoned rest area along I-20 WB between mile markers 49 and 48.

Payne’s body was discovered near a wooded area by a trooper with South Carolina Highway Patrol shortly before 8 am.

The rest stop is routinely monitored by Highway Patrol.

An autopsy to determine the cause of Payne’s death was scheduled for Sept. 25 at MUSC in Charleston.