A 55-year-old Manning man who allegedly shoplifted $120 items from a Manning store and then led authorities on a chase that stopped just over the Sumter-Clarendon county line has pleaded guilty to lesser traffic offenses.
Ernest Sidney Shepherd, 55, of 846 S. Harvin St. in Manning, was charged about 4:57 p.m. Dec. 30, 2014, with failure to stop for blue light, second or subsequent offense; resisting arrest; possession of less than a gram of crack cocaine, first offense; driving without a license, first offense; malicious injury to personal property less than $2,000; and shoplifting.
The Manning Police Department was called to Walmart on Paxville Highway about 3 p.m. Dec. 30 in reference to a shoplifting incident. Employees told police that a black Honda left and turned right onto Paxville Highway out of the parking lot, and that a suspect driving the vehicle had allegedly stolen items from the store. Private 1st Class Shelton G. Case gave chase with activated blue lights and siren on his fully-marked patrol car.
Shepherd's vehicle entered the a restaurant parking lot on Paxville Highway and then darted back onto the road. Clarendon County Sheriff's Office deputies then joined the chase, which proceeded right off Paxville Highway onto Crossroads Church Road, turning left onto Old Georgetown Road and continuing until about a half-mile into Sumter County.
The suspects car eventually turned left onto a dirt driveway, where he stopped and was apprehended without further incident. Dispatch indicated Shepherd was wanted for warrants in Florida, but did not say what the warrants were for.
During a search, Senior Cpl. Creighton Cheek found what appeared to be a silver spoon of the type used for crack cocaine. There was allegedly still residue on it.
The items taken during the alleged shoplifting incident were found in the vehicle and included a pair of utility jeans valued at $23.93; a pair of Wrangler pants valued at $19.97; and two automotive jump boxes valued at $59.97 each.
Shepherd was granted a $2,000 surety bond for the failure to stop charge and a $5 bond for resisting arrest. He pleaded guilty Tuesday to driving without a license, first offense, and malicious injury to property, receiving time-served - 20 days to that point - for both offenses.
Jail officials say Shepherd is awaiting extradition to Florida for his warrants there.
