Assault on law enforcement, threatening the life of a public official, public disorderly conduct
On Feb. 3, an officer responded to McLeod Health Clarendon at 10 E. Hospital Street in reference to a civil disturbance. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with McLeod Security who stated that the subject, Joshua Smith, was grossly intoxicated, began shouting profanity in the hospital lobby in front of patients, and needed to leave the property. The officer observed Smith acting very irate. While attempting to calm Smith down, the officer observed the odor of alcoholic beverages emitting from Smith’s person. As another officer arrived on scene and made contact with Smith, Smith approached him. The officer instructed Smith to step back but Smith continued approaching the officer in an aggressive manner and hit the officer in the chest area. Smith was then quickly subdued and assisted to the ground before being placed in handcuffs and placed under arrest for assault on a public official. After being handcuffed, Smith looked toward the second officer and began exclaiming that he was going to kill the officer. Smith was then placed in the rear of the second officer’s patrol car and transported to Clarendon County Detention Center and charged with Assault on a Public Official, Threatening the Life of a Public Official, and Public Disorderly Conduct. Law enforcement cleared the scene without further incident.
Lost property
On Feb. 6, an officer from the Manning Police Department was dispatched to an apartment complex within the city limits of manning regarding a lost cell phone. Upon arrival, the officer made contact with the complainant who reported that her iPhone 11, characterized by a purple and silver phone case, went missing between 9pm and 10pm that evening. The complainant also stated that one of her friends had her phone’s location, which was showing it in the apartment next door. She explained that she and her friends went to the apartment next door to check for her phone but no one answered the door, prompting her to request law enforcement assistance. The officer informed the complainant that the Find My iPhone feature does not provide a precise location. Given the proximity of the two apartments, the phone could be either in her residence or on the ground outside. He also explained that he could not force the neighbor to allow him to search her apartment if she refused. The officer then approached the neighbor’s apartment and met the neighbor, who was understandably upset by the presence of law enforcement and her neighbors at her door. The officer explained the reason for his visit, detailing the lost phone and its last known location. The neighbor indicated that she and the complainant do not get along and questioned why the phone would be in her residence. After some discussion, the neighbor allowed the officer to walk through her apartment to help search for the phone, while the officer reassured her she was not being accused of taking it. Following the walkthrough, the neighbor requested a copy of the report to present to the management office. The officer then returned to the complainant and advised her to check her apartment again and to look around outside in the morning when there is more light to try to locate her phone.
Kidnapping
On Feb 11, an officer was dispatched to the Manning Walmart in reference to a civil disturbance involving a black male yelling who got into a white Dodge Charger and left. While responding to the original location, officers were advised that a male subject from inside the white Charger stated that he was being kidnapped. Two officers from the Manning Police Department and one from the Clarendon County Sheriff’s Office observed the vehicle traveling southbound on S. Church Street and one of the officers activated his blue lights to initiate a traffic stop. The vehicle came to a stop in the McLeod Health Clarendon parking lot. Multiple officers conducted a felony traffic stop due to the nature of the call and due to there being five occupants inside the vehicle. All occupants were placed into investigative detention while an officer tried to find out what had taken place. The caller, who had originally advised that he was being kidnapped, stated that he was not actually being kidnapped but that him and his brothers and family were having a heated discussion while coming to the hospital to visit another family member and that it was a miscommunication. After all the other occupants’ information was gathered and checked through NCIC via dispatch, the driver was found to be wanted by Lane Police Department for an outstanding warrant. The driver, Marqual Bright, was then taken into custody and placed in the rear of an officer’s vehicle while the officer conducted a search on the vehicle. The officer located two firearms that were placed underneath the two front seats and checked the serial numbers through NCIC via dispatch and they were clear. The officer then transported Bright to the Williamsburg County/Clarendon County line on Highway 521 where custody was then transferred to an officer with Lane Police Department.
