On August 09, 2020 at approximately 3:00am Deputies with the Clarendon County Sheriff’s Office received a dispatch call in reference to a vehicle break-in in progress on Peggy Lane in the Manning area of Clarendon County. A Clarendon County Sheriff’s Office deputy was in the immediate area of the call and responded to investigate. The deputy observed a small SUV on Peggy Lane and when the deputy pulled in behind it the vehicle took off at high rate of speed. Less than ½ mile later the SUV wrecked attempting to turn onto HWY 260 off of Peggy Lane, disabling the vehicle. Four black male subjects left the vehicle and fled into a wooded area behind a residence. Additional Sheriff’s Office units along with units from Manning Police Department were quickly on the scene. While exiting the vehicle one of the subjects dropped a loaded handgun in the roadway. The SUV was found to be reported stolen from the Richland County area of South Carolina. Items were located in this vehicle which were identified as coming from vehicles and residences on Peggy Lane. Clarendon County Sheriff’s Office Investigators along with the Sheriff’s Office K-9 Tracking team were notified and responded to the scene. S.L.E.D. was also contacted and asked to assist with K-9 tracking operations. A perimeter was quickly established around the area and the Sheriff’s Office K-9 tracking team was deployed. A short time later, Robert Smith, a 20 year old black male came out of the wooded area and turned himself over to Law Enforcement. The perimeter units and K-9 Tracking team continued operations into the daylight hours on August 9th. During this time period numerous vehicles were discovered by Officers and by victims reports which had been broken into during the nighttime hours. Also during this time period three vehicles were discovered to have been stolen during the night. A 2005 GMC pickup truck blue in color was recovered by Law Enforcement Officers in a different location from where it was stolen. The locations where the numerous incidents occurred were the Peggy Lane area, the Buckhorn area, and the Hwy 260 area of Clarendon County. Shortly after daylight another suspect, William Nelson, a 19 year old black male was apprehended in the Country Club area of Clarendon County after calls were dispatched in reference to a suspicious person in the area. No other suspects were located on this date. Approximately 18 vehicles at that time were identified in the above areas as having been broken into. The two vehicles which were not recovered were a 2018 GMC Yukon Black in color and a 2014 GMC Yukon Burgundy in color.
On Sunday evening August 9th, 2020 Sumter County Sheriff’s Office observed the 2018 black in color GMC Yukon, attempted to stop it, and a short chase ensued. Two black male suspects ran from the vehicle and one suspect, Audante Wilson 24 years old was apprehended. The 2018 GMC Yukon was recovered.
On Wednesday August 12th 2020 Sumter County Sheriff’s Office arrested a fourth suspect, Azavius Jones an 18 year old black male when Sumter County deputies, along with Clarendon County deputies, executed a search warrant at his residence in Hibiscus Mobile Home Park. The 2014 Burgundy in color GMC Yukon was recovered by Sumter County Sheriff’s Office in the same area as the residence.
On Thursday August 13th 2020 Sumter County investigators executed a search warrant at another residence in Hibiscus Mobile Home Park and recovered items reportedly stolen from Sumter and Clarendon counties. Sumter County investigators are still identifying property recovered in the Crowndale, Brookgreen, Lee’s Preserve and Squaw Valley neighborhoods of Sumter County. The investigation is still ongoing and more charges are pending.
“The positive results of the investigation are due to the great communication across jurisdictions between Sumter and Clarendon counties,” Sheriff Anthony Dennis said. “In order to maintain our deep commitment to community policing, we must continue to work together with other law enforcement agencies to not only solve crime but to prevent crime.”
The Clarendon County Sheriff’s Office believes that other suspects may still be at large in reference to these cases. This is still an active ongoing investigation and anyone with any information in regards to these cases is asked to contact The Clarendon County Sheriff’s Office at 803-435-4414, Sumter County Sheriff’s Office at (803) 436-2000 or CrimeStoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC (274-6372). You do not have to reveal your identity to leave information.
