Anderson County Sheriff’s Deputies investigated a break-in at an area storage facility which resulted in an extensive, hours long search for one suspect.
ACSO Deputy B. Vaughn responded initially to a report of four suspects at the storage facility near Exit 32 at Hwy. 8 and I-85. Upon arriving, he found Deputy Turner, who was off duty but had responded to a personal call from the facility’s owner. He had two suspects in custody, Damien Tiller, WM, 18, 5’4″, 170 pounds, blonde and blue, from Belton, and Frank Evans Jr., WM, 42, 5’11″, 165 pounds, gray/hazel, also from Belton.
Deputy J. K. Billingsley also responded and took a third suspect, Adam Clontz, WM, 22, 5’9″, 190 pounds, brn/hazel, of Westminster, into custody. In the meantime, the ACSO helicopter was overhead, seeking some sign of the reported fourth suspect, who had fled on foot.
Eventually, the deputies, joined by K-9 Officer D.L. Brinston and his partner Albi, then tracked the fourth suspect, Terry Thrasher, WM, 49, 5’11″, 165 pounds, brn/blue, from Fair Play, to an abandoned building in a nearby pasture, where he was taken into custody.
According to ACSO sources, Tiller had been released from jail just a few days earlier, after being sentenced to six years probation on earlier burglary charges.
EASLEY
Jan.25 – B. Vaughn was dispatched to 115 Jesse Dr. Lot 8, where Leroy Walls reported that someone had broken into a mobile home belonging to his son Donald Walls, and stolen several appliances, valued at $850.
Jan. 25 – J.T. Bowers met with Brittany Gowan, of Washington, GA, who asked that he serve an ex parte court order issued by a Georgia judge, requiring that her husband, Edward Gowan, of Easley, return her daughter to her custody. After some discussion with members of the Gowan family, the order was obeyed and the mother and child returned to Georgia.
Jan. 26 – J. Cullen received a complaint at ACSO headquarters from Larry Walton, of 601 Riley Rd. that someone had stolen the tag off his vehicle. The SC tag bore the number 4144FM.
PELZER
Jan. 27 – J. Cullen, working the ACSO desk, received a complaint from Tammy Madden, of 608 Old River Rd., that someone had stolen her SC license plate, number HPV432.
Jan. 28 – J.G. Williams responded to 2 Burts St. where Richard Ausburn reported seeing two men near a nearby house who fled in a vehicle, leaving behind a black and white Rock Star ATV.
PIEDMONT
Jan. 25 – R.D. Smith responded to the Spinx at 2100 Hwy. 86, where Ronnie Riddle reported that a white male stole a case of beer and fled in a small white truck with no tag.
Jan. 26 – R.R. Wood responded to 206 Belle Isle Dr. where James Williams, Jr. reported the theft of his white 2006 Nissan Sentra, containing several military uniforms, from his driveway. Williams had started the car and left it running while he went back inside briefly. The car, bearing SC tag #EBN612, was valued at $4500.
Jan. 26 – K. Evatt responded to Shiloh Church Road to the Abounding Faith Church, where someone had damaged the air conditioning and heating unit by cutting the copper wiring. Damage was estimated at $35.
Jan. 27 – J.T. Bowers responded to the Powdersville Waffle House where he placed Luis Pelaez, WM, 21, on trespass notice at the request of the manager.
Jan. 27 – J. Cullen, desk officer at the ACSO headquarters, received a telephone report of a stolen USC license plate, tag # U444 from his 1999 Ford Ranger truck, while it was parked at the Executive Inn on McNeely Road.
Jan. 28 – B. Simpson, desk officer at the ACSO offices, received a telephone report from Ruth McWhite, of 133 Wilson Way, that someone had stolen her wallet from her purse inside her residence. The loss was estimated at $1020.
WILLIAMSTON
Jan. 25 – J.K. Billingsley responded to 1125 Breazeale Rd. where Ashley Langley reported that Christopher Lyde, WM, 32, 6’1″, 175, brn/brn, had assaulted her during an argument. Following interviews with both parties, Billingsley took Lyde into custody and transported him to ACDC.
Jan. 25 – P.D. Marter received a complaint from John Allen Smith Jr. that his brother, James Smith had fraudulently obtained credit in their father, James Allen Smith Sr.’s name without permission. Smith Jr. provided documentation of demands for payment and reported that his brother had previous cases concerning the same offenses pending as well. The evidence was provided to the ACSO’s white collar crimes unit.
