West Pelzer Police Officers recently investigated the following incidents:
June 1 – Chief Alexis Eliopoulos was flagged down by Delfino Mora Ramirez, owner of the La Palma Restaurant. He reported that when he arrived to open the restaurant, he found the doors pried open and the cash register broken into. While approximately one hundred dollars was stolen, damage to the doors was estimated at one thousand dollars.
June 4 – Chief Alexis Eliopoulos observed a vehicle make an illegal turn on red at a traffic light, and initiated a stop. Luciano Munoz Rodriguez produced a S.C. “ID card” that stated clearly that it was not a driver’s license. He was allowed to call a licensed driver and received a ticket for the traffic offense and one for the lack of a driver’s license.
June 7 – OFC. Rory Bell observed a motorcycle that he was familiar with and that appeared to have a stolen tag. He initiated a pursuit and the rider fled on Hardwood Road, until he reached the intersection of Cherokee Road, where he left the motorcycle and fled on foot. He was apprehended and identified as Bryson Avery Smith, WM, 25. He was arrested on charges of failure to stop for blue light, DUS 3rd offense, operating an uninsured vehicle and possession of stolen property. He was transported to ACDC.
June 15 – Chief Alexis Eliopoulos was operating radar when she clocked a vehicle doing 51 in a 25 zone. Upon stopping the vehicle, she discovered that the driver, Cameron Finley, WM, 21 had no insurance. He was cited for that and for the traffic violation.
June 15 – Chief Alexis Eliopoulos responded to the CVS pharmacy in response to a complaint of domestic violence. She located a red van in the drive thru and spoke to the driver Deborah Staggs, WF, 64 who stated that the vehicle had died at the drive thru window. She and Ervin Howard, WM, 73 got out to raise the hood and began arguing. He grabbed her by the arm, bruising her. He was cited for assault and battery third degree but was not arrested due to an obvious and significant medical issue.
June 17 – OFC. Ryan Marro responded to a report of a drunk driver swerving all over Highway 8, then hitting a curb and blowing out a tire, before pulling in to the 7-Eleven. Marro found the vehicle at the pump with a lug wrench but no jack. The driver, Joshua Rai Keith, WM, 20, 6’2”, 150 pounds exited the store with a hot dog he had bought and asked if he could eat it before going to jail. He admitted having 14 or 15 shots, and was eventually arrested for DUI and taken to ACDC. He was also charged with open container.
June 22 – Chief Alexis Eliopoulos was running radar when she observed a black SUV traveling at a high rate of speed. She clocked the vehicle at 57 mph in a 25 mph zone. Upon initiating a traffic stop, she discovered that the driver, Christopher Pierre, BM, 29 was driving on a suspended Pennsylvania license. She cited him for that and for speeding, and allowed a licensed driver in the SUV to assume operation of the vehicle.
June 24 – Chief Alexis Eliopoulos was running radar and clocked a vehicle doing 42 mph in a 25 mph zone. She stopped the vehicle and discovered the driver, Christine Hartley WF, 46 was driving under suspension. She was cited for that and for speeding, and a licensed driver was called to assume operation of the vehicle.
