January 31
At 4:36 p.m., officers were dispatched to Charlie C’s grocery store following a report of shoplifting. Due to unsafe driving conditions caused by winter weather, Detective J. Sessoms spoke with a member of the store’s loss prevention team by phone who informed him an unidentified woman entered the store and shortly after began changing the price tags on merchandise. The employee said the female was known to frequent the store stealing items but had, as of yet, not been caught in the act. He further stated video footage is available, which has been turned over to law enforcement for review. Case is active.
February 1
At 2:07 a.m., patrol units were dispatched to a residence on Covington Street after a report was called into dispatch of an irate female causing damage to the home of her ex-boyfriend. At the scene, Sgt. J. Dew and Cpl. J. Graham spoke with the reporting male subject as the female had already left the area. The male claimed the female was at his residence knocking on the door before ultimately deciding to kick it in instead, causing property damage. Officers later spoke with the female at her residence, but she claimed to have been home all evening. A short time later, another call came into dispatch from the same male on Covington Street claiming the female was back again. Law enforcement found the woman lying in the snow outside the residence appearing severely intoxicated. While officers investigated the male’s claims of property damage and trespass, the woman was assisted to a patrol car. The caller showed law enforcement where the glass was broken out from around his front door, though he said he did not wish for charges to be pressed against the female for the incident, however, given the inclement weather and the volume of calls already coming from the address for everyone’s safety Sheronda Bingham was arrested and charged as a pedestrian under the influence. Cpl. J. Graham transported Bingham to the Marlboro County Detention Center without further incident. Case closed by arrest.
February 2
At 12:43 p.m. law enforcement units arrived at an area Family Dollar following a report of a male shoplifting—specifically using wipes to clean himself while shopping that he decided to leave the store without paying for. According to employees, the individual fled the scene on a red bicycle. Units tracked the fleeing suspect all the way to the restroom of the Burger King where he admitted to using the wipes because they were already open inside the store. He said he did not feel that he should pay for what he felt amounted to gratuitous wipes, because, as he reiterated to law enforcement a second time, the wipes were sitting on the shelf already open when he happened upon them. Officers explained to the man this still counts as theft: anytime an individual enters a store and uses a product from the store they did not pay for, it is considered theft as the product is no longer marketable. A trespass order was completed, and the gentleman was issued a citation for his shoplifting and released without further incident. The value of the stolen wipes amounted to $7. Case closed by citation.
At 7:25 p.m., while on patrol and already advised to be on the lookout for a silver Toyota sedan involved in an earlier shooting and believed to be traveling from Society Hill into Marlboro County, Officer W. Callahan noticed a vehicle matching the description entering the Bennettsville city limits from the direction of Society Hill on Highway 15-401. When Callahan attempted to catch up with the vehicle, it suddenly changed lanes, making a turn onto Ellison Street. The vehicle became challenging to stay in contact with due to its increasing rates of speed, but Officer Callahan was able to observe the Toyota making a turn onto Fletcher Street. Once on Fletcher the driver attempted to swing around a tight curb — narrowly missing parked vehicles and hitting the curb. At this juncture, Callahan activated his blue lights to initiate a traffic stop, advised dispatch the subject was actively evading arrest and backup was needed. The suspect continued leading law enforcement, now onto West Main Street and then returned traveling towards Society Hill via the Highway 15-401 bypass. The MCSO had a unit in the area, which was nearly hit by the fleeing suspect. Officer Callahan continued to follow the vehicle into Darlington County where spike strips were set up on Hartsville Highway. The strips were effective and Officer Callahan returned to Bennettsville. Case closed by arrest.
At 3:37 p.m., a call was made to dispatch reporting an active fight underway at a residence on Cheraw Street. At the scene, Sgt. J. Tompkins and Cpl. H. Graham were met by two females, both minors. The minors claimed that one of the girl’s mothers had come to the residence and demanded her daughter return her cell phones to her. When the daughter refused, the mother then jumped on top of the girl, forcibly retrieving the cell phones. Around this time, the homeowner and grandmother to the assaulted juvenile, arrived at the house saying she had told her daughter not to come over. Officers next went to the home of the mother who admitted to going to her mother’s house to obtain her cell phones from her daughter but denied assaulting her. According to the mother, she only held her daughter down by her shirt in order to grab the phone out of her hand because she was resisting giving it to her. At this point, Khadijah Williamson was informed she could not hold down her daughter and was placed under arrest for unlawful conduct toward a child. Williamson was next transported to the Marlboro County Detention Center without incident. Case closed by arrest.
February 3
At 7:41 p.m., Sgt. Pate with the Marlboro County Detention Center called Sgt. H. Kessler to advise an individual who was outside the detention center was causing a disturbance. Sgt. Kessler dispatched Officer W. Callahan to the scene. According to Sgt. Pate, the nuisance individual was very desirous of gaining entry to the facility, so much so that he would not leave when asked. Instead, the male chose to continuously hit the buzzer on the door. Proving that if one really wants to visit the detention center there is always a way, Officer W. Callahan placed Mr. Delton Fuller under arrest and turned him over to detention center staff. Case closed by arrest.
At 10:10 a.m., Lt. Bob Hale responded to Charlie C’s Grocery Store following a report of a disorderly female causing a disturbance. At the scene, Lt. Hale learned from employees the female became enraged while attempting to purchase produce — particularly bell peppers. According to the customer, the bell peppers in question were priced three for a dollar, though the store maintained this belief was not accurate and when the customer was informed of the correct price, she then returned to the produce section where she grabbed two additional bell peppers, said she refused to pay for them and would happily await the arrival of law enforcement. But this proved to not be the case, because when law enforcement arrived, she became increasingly volatile and initially refused officer requests to provide identification. Due to her combative nature, Lt. Hale requested the woman step outside the store. Once outside, the female continued her rant against law enforcement, store employees, and the falsely priced produce. After being trespassed from the store, the female left the area without further incident. Case closed.
February 4
At 3:46 p.m., Sgt. Genwright responded to a business on Liberty Street after a report came into dispatch of a male trespasser lurking in the area. At the scene, Sgt. Genwright and Lt. E. German found a group of individuals outside arguing — one individual of the group was identified as the caller and another as the male trespasser. Once the parties were separated, it became apparent that the dispute stemmed from child custody issues. The female business owner said she was afraid of the male and did not want him near her or her business. The male claimed to only be at the location in order to see his child. Law enforcement advised the female of the process for obtaining a restraining order and the male suspect was trespassed from the business without further incident. Case closed.