ECSO Locates Stolen Vehicle – One Arrest Made – One Suspect Still Being Sought

The Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office was patrolling the Merriwether area Tuesday, June 3, after a report that a truck matching the description of a vehicle stolen out of Aiken County was seen in the area. A deputy located the suspect vehicle, a white Chevrolet extended cab truck, parked at Sportsman’s Corner on Martintown Road and observed two white males standing in front of the vehicle, one of whom went inside the business and the other remained near the truck. When deputies approached the vehicle they noted that its steering wheel column was broken, and the ignition switch had been removed. Deputies questioned the man near the truck, and he denied being the driver of the truck or knowing who the driver was. The man was detained and a deputy went into the establishment to view video of the vehicle’s arrival at the gas station which showed the suspect who had entered the gas station as the driver and how he had subsequently fled from the scene into some nearby woods. The detained suspect gave various stories as to how and why he was in the vehicle. He was arrested, however, and charged with possession of a stolen vehicle.   As deputies were processing the scene for evidence, a cigarette package containing what is believed to be methamphetamines was located inside the truck. As a result of this discovery, the suspect in custody was also charged with possession of methamphetamine. The suspect, Paul Wright, of Beech Island, was transported to the Edgefield County detention center without incident. The driver in this case is still being sought. He is described as a 30-40 year old white male, approximately 6’ tall, weighing around 220 lbs. He was last seen wearing a brown shirt and white plaid shorts.

Woman Informs ECSO Someone Stole Her Drugs

You may have heard it said that there is no honor among thieves. Well, the same may be true of drug users. According to a report filed with the Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office, a woman notified the ECSO, Tuesday, June 3, that someone had entered her home and stolen $40 worth of crack cocaine from her kitchen table. In addition to the drugs, the thieves also reportedly took $25 in cash from the woman’s purse. The woman identified whom she believed to be the culprit of these thefts and accused the identified man and his cohorts of doing various other deeds inside her home which included switching the stems in her marijuana with old stems and switching a new package of cigarettes with an old one. The woman was asked to notify law enforcement if the suspected thieves returned.

Vehicle Stolen From Eagle Road

A vehicle was reported stolen from a residence on Eagle Road, North Augusta (Edgefield County), Sunday, June 1. According to an Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office report, the victim stated the 2001 burgundy Ford F150 extended cab truck with a gray stripe down the bottom and traces of ‘Brown’s Brother Roofing’ on the driver and passenger side doors was accounted for when she went to bed. However, when she woke up, the victim says she found the untagged vehicle, in which the keys had been left, gone. This crime was turned over to the investigation unit of the ECSO.

Nearly $9,000 Worth of Items Stolen Including Motorcycle and Tools

The Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office responded to a burglary call at a residence on Edgefield Road in Trenton, Friday, June 6. According to the ECSO report, the homeowner stated that when he woke up he observed his garage door was halfway opened. Closer observation revealed that several items were missing from the garage and that a black utility trailer behind the garage had also been broken into. Items noted missing from the garage included a black Suzuki motorcycle, a welder, wheeled tanks of acetylene and oxygen, a torch set, chain saws, micrometer measuring tools, a tool set, generators, a welding helmet and various welding rods, a weed eater, a leaf blower, a wheeled battery charger, a wheeled pressure washer, and multiple cans of refrigerants. The victim noted that once he is able to inventory his belongings, more items may be revealed to have been stolen. From the utility trailer, items reported stolen included tool boxes, socket sets, multi meters, a wet tile cutter, various rechargeable tools, a package of refrigerant, and soldering guns. Reported items stolen from this location, too, are likely to increase as a proper inventory is made. In all, the worth of the items and the damage to property was listed at nearly $9,000. This scene was processed for evidence and has been turned over to the investigation unit of the ECSO.

Over $11,000 Worth of Items Stolen From Whitlock Road

A homeowner at a residence on Whitlock Road awoke Friday morning to find that her home had been the target of thieves. According to a report filed with the Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office, a family member in the home had heard noises outside the residence at around four in the morning but had discounted the sounds and gone back to sleep. The resident said that when she got up and went outside in the morning, she noticed the doors to her sheds were open and several items missing. Among those items were a 2009 green Yamaha ATV, a Moped, a 12×6 wooden utility trailer, a tiller and tiller parts, a pressure washer, multiple rods and reels, chain saws, a metal detector, a bench grinder, two heavy duty skill saws, a wood lathe with sanding disk, a blower and hedger, a sander, a scroll saw, a pump for a fish pond, a drill press and parts, and assorted tools. In all, the items stolen were estimated to be worth over $11,000. An investigation of the scene revealed that security wire across the driveway to the residence had been cut. Additionally, the ATV and Moped were each secured by security wire which had also been cut. The shed doors were noted to have been pried open. Evidence was collected from this scene, and this crime is being investigated by the ECSO.