Crime Watch groups to hold special meetings with Sheriff’s Office

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By Stan Welch

White Plains/Wren area – Partly in response to a recent rash of burglaries and thefts in this end of the county, Anderson County Sheriff Office’s Captain Darrell Hill has scheduled a series of meetings with the area’s crime watch organizations.

Among the news Hill will share is the information that two Piedmont men were arrested last week, following an altercation with a deputy which saw one of the men shot by the officer.

The incident occurred on Archie Street in Piedmont, when the deputy, who is regularly assigned to that patrol area, approached two men in a vehicle parked at the same residence as a red truck that was the subject of a Be On Look Out (BOLO)  alert. The truck was linked to several reported burglaries.

When the deputy approached, the vehicle attempted to flee, almost running over the officer, who fired one round from his service weapon, wounding Billy Joe Crane, WM, 27, of Piedmont. Crane was transported to Greenville Memorial Hospital with non life threatening wounds. Upon his release from the hospital he was taken into custody and remained in the Anderson Detention Center as of Tuesday afternoon.

Crane was charged with receiving stolen goods, valued at less than $2000; possession of less than a gram of meth or cocaine base; and assault of a high and aggravated nature, in relation to his effort to run down the deputy.

Also taken into custody at the scene was Jeremiah Johnston Holdbrooks, WM, 29, also of Piedmont. Holdbrooks was wanted on outstanding warrants for driving under suspension, reckless driving, and failure to stop for blue lights, as well as receiving stolen goods valued at less than $2000.

Capt. Darrell Hill told The Journal that getting the two men off the streets was a big help. “We feel like they have been involved in a number of the break-ins and robberies in this part of the county. These arrests are definitely good news for our citizens.”

The meetings scheduled all involved established citizens’ groups, including the Wren and Highway 17 area group, which met this past Monday.  On January 16, at 7 pm, there will be a meeting at the West Pelzer Fire Department .  This is the Country Glen Area group.

 On January 31, at 6:30 pm, the White Plains group will have a meeting at White Plains’ Community Center which is located at Hwy 8 and Midway Rd. Pelzer.