MARLBORO COUNTY — Deputies and agents with the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) arrested a man following an eight-hour manhunt.
Randy Keith Johnson was charged with failure to stop for blue lights, felon in possession of a firearm, resisting arrest, aggravated breach of peace, domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature, second degree assault and battery and malicious injury to property, according to Chief Deputy Larry Turner.
He also said Jason Jordan was charged and arrested for hindering officers making an arrest.
The search took place along Highway 381 just outside of McColl on Tuesday.
The man was wanted for badly assaulting a woman, according to officers on the scene. Johnson evaded a traffic stop when deputies were trying to serve arrest warrants, and led officers on a vehicle pursuit.
Then, Turner said him and a Jordan fled on foot into a nearby wooded area on New Bridge Road in the McColl area of Marlboro County.
A SLED canine unit tracked the individual to a nearby pond, but the trail was lost, according to Turner. Deputies and agents from SLED, assisted by the SLED Aviation Unit and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, continued their pursuit.
The suspect eventually surrendered himself later on Tuesday night in a wooded area few miles from where the incident occurred, according to Turner.
The Marlboro County Sheriff’s Office released this statement:
“Chief Deputy Larry Turner acknowledges that it was a long day but expressed gratitude for the agency’s drive and determination in helping bring the victim closer to the opportunity to speak in court for justice. These incidents are being overseen by Sgt. Dew and Investigator Sessoms.”