Lexington DUI arrests down overall

The Lexington Police Department issued a report on driving under the influence and vehicle crashes in 2019.

There were 110 DUI arrests in the Town of Lexington in 2019, with an average of 9.17 per month. The number of DUI arrests in 2018 was 89. It was 192 in 2017; 124 in 2016 and 138 in 2015, the Chronicle’s Terry Ward reported.

There were 1,596 traffic accidents in 2019. That’s 4.37 a day. In 2018 there were 1,705 traffic accidents. There were 1,476 in 2017; 1,446 in 2016 and 1,537 in 2015.

West Columbia police seek attempted murder suspect

The West Columbia Police Department is seeking the public’s help in locating Kerrie Alyssa Spires and Robert Lee Raines of Parkwood Drive in West Columbia.

Both individuals have warrants for attempted murder, armed robbery, and other felony charges. Raines also has several active warrants with the Richland County Sheriff’s Office.

During the afternoon of May 28 Spires met with the victim at the Hampton Inn on Sunset Boulevard in West Columbia where she orchestrated a robbery against him with Raines, police said.

Spires allowed access into the room for Raines who robbed the victim at gunpoint. Raines fired his handgun at the victim before fleeing the scene with the victim’s money.

The West Columbia Police Department asks for those with information on the whereabouts of Kerrie Spires and Robert Raines to call the West Columbia Police Department at (803) 794-0721 or to submit a tip to CrimeStoppers of the Midlands by using the P3 Tips App or by going to CrimeSC.com and clicking “Submit a Tip”.

West Cola cops arrest C-WC Chamber CEO

The West Columbia Police Department arrested Richard Dwight Skipper on Friday for 4 counts of Forgery Less than $10,000.

An investigation determined Skipper, who is the CEO of The Greater Cayce-West Columbia Chamber of Commerce, submitted approximately $5,150 of fraudulent invoices to the City of West Columbia for reimbursement of Hospitality Tax Grant Funds.

The fraudulent invoices were submitted in 2018 and 2019 for events such as the Holiday Parade of Lights and West Columbia’s Rhythm on the River Concert Series.

Skipper is currently being held at the Lexington County Detention Center, according to a news release from West Columbia.

Skipper was put on unpaid administrative leave effective immediately and the Board of Directors and Staff will be cooperating fully with the authorities in any further investigation, the Chamber said in a statement.

Sheriff: Man robbed security guard, stole crab legs

Lexington County investigators have arrested a Columbia man accused of tying up a security guard at a food distributor and breaking into a warehouse to steal thousands of dollars’ worth of seafood.

Johnathan Dewayne Dorsey, 28, is charged with armed robbery, 2nd-degree burglary and kidnapping, according to arrest warrants.

Detectives determined he and other co-defendants had a pistol as they threatened a contract security guard at the US Foods distribution center Jan. 18, said Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon.

They tied up the guard and left him face down before stealing his cellphone and a key card, according to Koon.

“The key card got them into the warehouse where they stole 2 pallets of frozen crab legs worth about $8,400,” Koon said.

The investigation is ongoing and investigators expect to make more arrests, according to Koon.

“Deputies have also charged Dorsey with 2 counts of breach of trust from his time as a US Foods employee last year,” Koon said. “They’ve confirmed he stole more than a hundred cases of crab legs worth nearly $36,000 in October.”

Investigators arrested Dorsey Wednesday. He’s been released after meeting the conditions of his bond.

Hospital fires employee over social media post

Lexington Medical Center announced suspending then firing an employee accused of posting a racial slur on social media.

The hospital’s statement: “Lexington Medical Center has fired an employee who worked in a clerical position and made a highly offensive and inappropriate remark on social media last night.

“The employee’s comments did not reflect our values and violated our organization’s policies. We do not tolerate that type of behavior. The employee is no longer part of our organization.”

Chapin man charged with sex crimes

Chad Michael Bose, 37, of Chapin, has been charged with sexual exploitation of a minor.

Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigators with the Lexington County Sheriff’s Office made the arrest.

Investigators with Attorney General Alan Wilson’s Office assisted with the investigation.

Investigators received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that led them to Bose.

Investigators state Bose distributed child pornography.

Bose was arrested May 21 and charged with sexual exploitation of a minor, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

The case will be prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office.

7 charged in armed robbery, mob assault

Lexington County deputies have arrested and charged 7 people accused of robbing and assaulting 2 men on Sunset Boulevard.

Charged with armed robbery are: Elijah Karos Clark, 19, De’Aci Marquette Corley, 18, Lane Rathburn Hein, 20, Jonathan Michael Kidd, 20, Mason Wilbur Mims, 20, Mason Caldwell Murphy, 20, and Garrett Lee Steen, 18.

Hein, Kidd, Mims and Murphy are also charged with assault and battery by mob.

Corley is also charged with 2 counts of kidnapping and possessing a weapon during a violent crime.

Detectives found Corley was armed with a pistol when he and the other 6 suspects assaulted and forcefully robbed 2 men on the side of the road in the 3100 block of Sunset Boulevard on May 12.

The suspects got away with a smartwatch and some cash, according to Koon. Investigators said some of those involved had an encounter over drugs minutes before at a Saint Andrews Road motel.

All 7 suspects were arrested late last week without incident.

3 charged with impersonating officers

Two men and a woman are charged with impersonating law enforcement officers after Lexington County deputies said the suspects claimed to be cops and talked their way into a Pelion home last month.

Chad David Andrews, 31, Emily Kristin Moore, 24, and Kenneth Ray Wooten, 43, are also charged with 1st-degree burglary, according to arrest warrants.

The 3 suspects said they were Lexington County narcotics agents and investigating a crime when they entered a Fairview Road home at about 2:30 in the morning April 30,” Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said.

The woman who lives at the house told detectives she thought she was doing the right thing and had to let the three people inside, according to Koon.

“She wasn’t injured and we’re not aware of anything being taken from the home,” Koon said. “This was still a very risky situation that could’ve turned out much differently.”

Wooten is being held in the Lexington County Detention Center. Andrews and Moore have been released after meeting conditions of their bond.