Suspected Burglars Chased from Saluda into Johnston

A high speed chase of two suspected burglars from the town of Saluda led to Johnston, Monday, Oct. 26. According to Major Long with the Saluda Police Department, who spoke to The Advertiser, Tuesday, following the chase, Saluda dispatch was notified by a neighbor that two men were seen entering a home on Bonham Road in Saluda. The witness stated the men were carrying t.v.s from the residence to a white Cadillac parked behind the home. As he was responding to the scene, Maj. Long said that he met a vehicle matching the description of the one said to be involved in the suspected burglary. When Maj. Long attempted to turn around and obtain the vehicles information, the vehicle sped up. When blue lights were initiated in an attempt to stop the car, the vehicle sped away, and the chase began. Maj. Long said the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed during the chase, reaching speeds of 120-130 mph, and was driving erratically, passing vehicles on a double yellow line.

Law enforcement within Edgefield County was notified that the chase was headed toward their county. As a result, when the chase was picked up in Edgefield County a little after lunchtime, deputies with the Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office and the Johnston Police Department were waiting for the suspects at Long Cane Road where they joined the chase. The suspects turned onto Long Cane and attempted to turn again onto Ouzts Road, but they missed the turn, and the vehicle crashed into a ditch. The suspects then fled from the wrecked car into the woods. The SC Law Enforcement Division as well as members from SPD, ECSO, and JPD engaged in a search for the suspects. A SLED helicopter was deployed as were dogs with the ECSO canine division.

One suspect was located about a quarter of a mile from the wrecked car reportedly trying to hide under a residence. That suspect was arrested without incident. The other suspect, however, is still on the loose.

Xavier Devon Matheney, 23, of Graniteville, SC, was arrested and charged with Burglary 1^st, grand larceny, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, conspiracy to commit Burglary 1^st, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a stolen vehicle.

While the second suspect is still at large, law enforcement believe they have identified him. His name is not yet being released, yet, pending his arrest, but he is described as a black male approximately 5’11” and weighing about 170 lbs. He was last seen wearing a dark colored hoodie. It is not known whether or not he is still in Edgefield County. Anyone seeing a suspicious male matching this description is encouraged to call law enforcement.

According to Maj. Long, a loaded revolver was found on the driver’s side front seat of the vehicle after it wrecked. Additionally, Maj. Long confirmed that all the stolen items from the residence in Saluda were retrieved. Those items included multiple firearms, three flat screen t.v.s, an Xbox, and Xbox games. The vehicle used in this crime was also stolen from Aiken County. It was towed back to Saluda and processed by SLED for evidence.

Break-in at S&H Used Cars in Trenton

The Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a break-in at S&H Used Cars on Pine House Road in Trenton, Sunday, Oct. 25. According to the ECSO report on the incident, a secretary for the business told responding deputies that she had gone to the Dollar General located next to the car lot Friday morning and happened to look over at her place of employment and noticed that two vehicles were missing. After calling the owner of the business, the secretary stated she went to the car lot and entered the office whereupon she noticed an opened window and dirt and sand on a chair with a shoe print. The secretary said that things had been moved around on her desk and that keys to all the vehicles on the lot were gone. She also showed deputies where a part of the chain link fence that surrounds the property had been torn down. It is believed the thieves were able to get the vehicles off the lot through the resulting hole in the fence.

The two cars stolen were both white Chevy Impalas. One was described as being 2006 LT 4 door model with factory wheels and was valued at $4,200. The other is a 2007 4 door LTZ model with leather interior and alloy wheels valued at $7,000.

The scene was processed for evidence, and the ECSO is investigating this crime.

Camper and Car Stolen in Separate Incidents

The Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a stolen camper and a stolen car in two separate incidents Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 21 & 22. In the first incident, a resident of Hickory Hill Drive in North Augusta (Edgefield County) told responding deputies that as he was getting ready to go to work Wednesday morning, he attempted to unlock his 2015 Chrysler 200 using his key pad. However, when he did not hear the vehicle beep in response to being unlocked, he looked outside his residence and noticed that the car was gone. The victim told authorities he had bought the car only five months prior for $40,000.

In the second incident, a New Ellenton woman called law enforcement Thursday to report that a camper which was being kept at her property on Five Notch Road in North Augusta (Edgefield County) was missing. The woman stated that one of her sons lived at the Five Notch location but that he had assumed she had moved the camper to another location. It is because of this that the theft was delayed in being reported. The camper was last know to be on the property on Oct. 11. The camper is a 2009 Heartland Fifth Wheel. It is described as being off white in color with possibly gray and brown stripes on the front and down the side.

The ECSO is continuing to investigate both of these thefts.