Bennettsville Police Department crime reports for April 18-19

April 18

At 3:44 p.m., officers responded to a residence on Mills Street following a report of a dispute over construction repairs turned violent when a gun was reportedly drawn on the caller. At the scene, officers learned the incident stemmed from an earlier one involving a male neighbor accidentally hitting a female neighbor’s brick column. According to the couple that caused the damage, the female neighbor agreed to allow repair work to be done on the column and not to proceed with a previously filed property damage case. However, when the female arrived home and found a non-licensed contractor working on her column without her knowledge or permission and having the presence of alcohol on her premises, she became upset and requested that all parties leave her property. After speaking with all parties and witnesses to events, it was determined no gun was ever pulled on anyone and the couple who initially inflicted the damage to their neighbor’s property were then trespassed from the premises. Case closed.

At 3:28 p.m., officers responded to a business on Hwy 15-401 Bypass East in reference to shoplifting. At the scene, officers learned from loss prevention that a minor in the store with their mother used lotion from a bottle on the store shelf on themselves and was allegedly caught filling a personal bottle with the lotion. After officers made contact with the duo, they were brought back to the store’s loss prevention office to discuss the matter. The juvenile claimed the bottle was already open, but officers explained this does not give someone the right to take merchandise they have not paid for—it constitutes as shoplifting. Due to the suspect’s age, the mother was trespassed from store premises. Value of the lotion is approximated at $6.19. Case is active.

At 5:51 p.m., officers responded to a residence on Lyall Street following a report of property damage. At the scene, officers learned from one irate neighbor that another neighbor allegedly hit their fence with bricks, causing damage. The victim stated the incident occurred on April 17 and that debris from the damaged fence had already been removed. Officers next spoke with the accused who said that while cleaning up the yard they did toss some bricks in the direction of their neighbor’s fence. The neighbor also admitted to being aware that at least one brick did travel underneath his neighbor’s fence but was unaware of any property damage. The neighbor further stated that due to previous incidents with the neighbor they did not cross property lines to retrieve the errant brick. The issue was determined to be a civil matter. Case is closed.

April 19

At 8:34 p.m., officers responded to a residence on Lawson Street following a report of a trespassing lurker rolling around in the grass down the street from the home of the caller. When officers attempted to speak with the flailing male, they found him to be unsteady on his feet and grunting incoherently. A driver’s license located on the suspect identified him as Johnathon Adams and he was subsequently arrested for public intoxication and transported to the Marlboro County Detention Center without further incident. Case closed by arrest.

At 10:24 p.m., officers received a call reporting domestic violence going down at a residence on Center Street. Dispatch advised officers the scene was highly active, and a male could be heard in the background making threats on someone’s life. As officers arrived, they were informed by dispatch the male was now trying to leave the area. Observing the male’s vehicle in the process of fleeing, officers initiated a traffic stop. The male raised his hands and said he did not wish to reach for anything as he did have a gun under the passenger seat. When officers asked for identification, the male provided his, identifying himself as John Tedder. While Tedder was being detained, officers spoke with the female involved in the incident who stated to officers she got into an altercation with Tedder that resulted in him pushing past her and causing her to strike her head on a wooden pole. In reports, officers noted observing a sizeable, bruised area on the female’s forehead above her right eye. The female claimed that when she tried to leave, the male shouted at her, and she requested another neighbor call the incident into 911. The witness who called in the incident said she saw the whole event go down from her balcony and that she heard the male threaten the life of her female neighbor. Tedder was then taken into custody and charged with Domestic Violence Second Degree. Case closed by arrest.