Anderson County Sheriff’s investigators arrested Donnie Earl Thomason, Jr. Monday in connection with the theft of two vehicles in the Williamston area and other incidents in Anderson County. He was located at a residence on Kirby Road in Belton and will be facing charges in Anderson, Greenville and Greenwood Counties.
According to reports, in the early morning hours of January 19, Thomason took a 2003 Ford Explorer from a residence on Pamela Drive in Williamston. He left the vehicle across the street from the home but ransacked the inside, taking athletic clothes and an Apple I-pad which belonged to school district one.
That same morning, Thomason broke into a 2008 Ford F150 on Diane Lane in Williamston. He left the Ford but took the homeowner’s 2013 Volkswagen Passat. The keys to the VW were inside the F150.
During the late evening hours on January 28, Thomason broke into a residence on Campbell Road in Williamston and stole items valued at nearly $5000, including musical instruments, electronics, computer equipment, and three Samuri swords.
Between midnight and one o’clock in the morning on February 2, Thomason stole a 1994 Ford Ranger from a rental business on Belton Highway. The truck was secured inside a locked, fenced-in area but Thomason drove through the front gate in order to escape with the vehicle.
Monday afternoon, March 8, a deputy on patrol in the Williamston area observed Thomason on a sports-style motorcycle near the intersection of Anderson Drive at McAlister Road. Knowing that Thomason had outstanding felony warrants, the deputy attempted to stop the vehicle.
Instead of stopping, Thomason sped from the area at a high rate of speed. A pursuit began but ended when the deputy terminated the pursuit for safety reasons. At the time of the incident, Thomason was driving on a suspended driver’s license.
Eight warrants have been issued for his arrest. He is charged with three counts of grand larceny, breaking into a motor vehicle, burglary, malicious injury to personal property, failure to stop for blue lights, and driving under suspension.
His last known address was 211 Mauldin Street in Williamston.
