Police investigate Lexington shooting

Lexington detectives are investigating a shooting that took place Monday afternoon at the Park North Apartment complex on Brookhill Street West.

At approximately 2:55 pm, officers were dispatched to a shooting incident within the complex.

Officers found a man inside an apartment with a gunshot wound to the head. The man was transported to Primsa Health Richland Hospital by EMS where his condition is unknown.

“Though this investigation is ongoing, detectives believe so far that this was a self-inflected shooting,” said Green. “I want those who live in the Park North community to know that they are safe, and this appears to be an isolated incident.”

Body of missing UofSC student found

Police have found the body of a missing University of SC student.

Richland County Sheriff’s deputies found a male body Sunday afternoon at Vulcan Materials Quarry, the Chronicle’s Terry Ward reported.

Richland County Coroner Gary Watts idendified the body as Samuel Laundon, 19, of Cary, North Carolina.

Laundon was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy revealed he died as a result of blunt force trauma to the head and body.

The Richland County Coroner’s Office and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department continue to investigate this incident.

Irmo police seek shooting suspect

The Irmo Police Department is seeking the person and vehicle seen at the scene of a shooting at an apartment complex near the New Friarsgate subdivision early Sunday.

Officials say the vehicle and a thin-built male are believed to be involved in that incident.

The vehicle was last seen traveling into the New Friarsgate subdivision.

If you have seen anything or if you have any information on this case you are urged to contact the Irmo Police Department or Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIMESC.

Teen runaway returns home safe

A Lexington teen who ran away from home Monday has been returned safely.

Monday morning, officers were dispatched to a residence on Creek Side Lane in Lexington where it was found that Meredyth Conrad, 17, of Lexington, South Carolina, had runaway from her home.

SC to receive part of $1.6B opioid settlement

A US opioid manufacturer will pay $1.6 billion for its role in the opioid crisis.

Mallinckrodt (MNK) will pay into a cash trust that will go toward abating the opioid crisis.

MNK will pay:

• $450 million upon emergence from bankruptcy.

• $200 million annually on 1st and 2nd anniversary of emergence from bankruptcy.

• $150 million annually on 3rd through 7th anniversaries of emergence from bankruptcy.

MNK also agrees that its opioid business will be subject to stringent injunctive relief that, among other things, will prevent marketing and ensure systems are in place to prevent drug misuse.

Details about how much each state will receive, how the money will be distributed, and how the trust will be administered are all still being negotiated.

W. Columbia armed robbery suspects arrested

West Columbia police and Richland County deputies arrested 2 men for armed robbery.

On Sept. 20, Javon Emory Jenkins and Jonathan Wesley Scott Woods had their vehicle towed and were dropped off at UHaul located at 400 Orchard Drive in West Columbia, police said.

While there, 2 men robbed the tow truck driver at gunpoint.

Following an investigation, the suspects were identified as Jenkins and Woods.

On Oct. 8, the pair were located at 1051 Southern Drive in Columbia and arrested for armed robbery, kidnapping, possession of a firearm during a violent crime, and criminal conspiracy.

The Richland County Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant after the arrests and found money, narcotics, and multiple stolen firearms.

Charges for the 2 are pending with Richland County.

Lexington man murders girlfriend

Lexington County deputies have charged a man with murder in the death of his girlfriend.

The woman was found dead in a Wynnsum Trail home in June. She has been identified as Patricia Smerdell, according to Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher.

Scott Mattison Horton, 53, was charged with murder in the beating death detectives said happened between June 18-20, according to arrest warrants.

“After reviewing evidence and a pathology report, investigators determined Horton physically assaulted Ms. Smerdell,” Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said. “Her death was ruled a homicide after an autopsy.”

A pathologist said the victim’s injuries were inflicted upon her rather than suffered in an accident as suggested by Horton, according to Koon.

Horton was arrested last Thursday. He’s being held in the Lexington County Detention Center while he awaits a bond hearing.

Lexington armedrobbery fugitive arrested

Desmond Quiana Hampton, 18, of Lexington, was arrested on charges including a recent armed robbery.

On Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 4, Hampton, along with an accomplice, robbed a victim at gunpoint at an apartment complex off Park Road in Lexington, according to police. The 2 men stole over $300 then fled.

Hampton was arrested in

Pelion Oct. 6. Hampton is a documented gang member and is being held without bond at the Lexington County Detention Center on the charges of armed robbery, possession of weapon during a violent crime, and criminal conspiracy.

Gaston names interim police chief

Major Stephen Watkins has been named Gaston’s Interim Chief of Police.

Watkins has been with the department several years. Gaston’s former chief Shawn Mohundro resigned his position a few weeks ago for reasons unannounced.

Gaston Town Council made the announcment at its Oct. 6 meeting.

Former LCDC officer charged in conspiracy

A former detention officer at the Lexington County Detention Center has been charged for her alleged role in an assault-for-hire scheme last year.

Ingrid Yolanda Ortiz-Montero, 22, is charged with 2 counts of misconduct in office and 1 count of conspiracy, according to arrest warrants.

“Immediately after I became aware of allegations that Ortiz-Montero brought contraband into the detention center, I placed her on administrative leave and launched an internal review,” Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said.

“Once I determined potential criminal activity took place, I called in the State Law Enforcement Division, as is standard procedure. We do that when a current or former employee is involved to ensure an unbiased and thorough investigation.”

After she was placed on administrative leave for the contraband investigation, Ortiz-Montero communicated with an inmate to discuss payment for the assault of another inmate, Koon said.

“In November 2019, Oritz-Montero offered to pay $100 for the assault,” Koon said. “She resigned from her position about 2 weeks later.”

Ortiz-Montero, a Cayce resident, was booked into the Lexington County Detention Center Saturday morning after SLED agents arrested her.

She was expected to be released Saturday afternoon after meeting the conditions of her bond.

Man dies in head-on collision near Lexington

A man has died in a collision near Lexington Saturday night.

Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher identified the driver in the collision that happened on South Lake Drive near Bluefield Road in the Red Bank area.

According to Fisher, Frank Harry James Sturkie Jr., 39, of Lexington was pronounced dead at the scene due to his injuries.

Sturkie was traveling toward Lexington when he lost control of his vehicle, crossed the center line, and was struck by an oncoming vehicle. Sturkie was not wearing a seat belt.

The occupants of the other vehicle were transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The collision is being investigated by the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

Alligator harvester arrested

Alligator hunting has become a popular sport in Lexington County.

And it is legal if you have the proper state licenses.

A Cheraw alligator hunter has been arrested for illegally harvesting American alligators.

SC Department of Natural Resource officers and the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office arrested Julius Raymond Loflin, Jr., a state-contracted alligator removal agent.

Loflin had permits and tags for the legal removal and disposal of nuisance alligators.

Evidence recovered in a search of Loflin’s home included untagged carcasses and alligator parts.

This indicated he had not been using permits appropriately and violated state laws.

Loflin has not been charged with wildlife violations yet, but SCDNR officials anticipate that charges will be forthcoming.

Loflin was charged with other offenses and is being held at the Chesterfield County Detention Center.

Swansea chief’s final farewell

Swansea’s Chief of Police Clif Hayes retired last Friday.

Friends and family celebrated his years in law enforcement at the Swansea Police Department Oct. 9.

Council members Linda Butler, Doris Simmons and Mike Luongo represented the Town of Swansea.

Chief Hayes spent the last 25 years in law enforcement.