Training developed in-house said to be the first on its scale in the Palmetto State By W. Thomas Smith Jr. The Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) held its first-ever graduation of 22 deputy sheriffs enrolled in the department’s new TACTICAL MEDICAL PROGRAM, which prepares deputies for the full-spectrum of challengesContinue Reading
LEXINGTON, S.C. — A motorcycle driver died following a collision with another vehicle on South Lake Drive in the Red Bank area of Lexington County. “Based on information from the scene, the motorcycle driver was operating recklessly when a deputy observed them and began attempting a traffic stop,” said LexingtonContinue Reading
LEXINGTON, S.C. – Lexington County deputies have arrested a man accused of attacking a woman outside her home and stalking her at her job. Joey Miles Strickland, 41, is charged with first-degree assault and battery, kidnapping, and stalking, according to arrest warrants. “The sequence of events between Strickland and theContinue Reading
LEXINGTON, S.C. – A White Knoll High School teacher is accused of assaulting a student at the school. Fritzie Suerto Refamonte, 45, is charged with third-degree assault and battery, according to an arrest warrant. “When we became aware of this incident, we opened an investigation and determined Refamonte allegedly assaultedContinue Reading
At least $50,000 raised for Richland County Sheriff’s Department’s K-9 unit By W. Thomas Smith Jr. Deputies with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD), RCSD K-9s, and friends and supporters of RCSD and local law enforcement gathered at Columbia Flag & Sign Company in West Columbia for the first-ever “Dog-a-thonContinue Reading
Popular law enforcement leader and former National Sheriff of the Year takes oath of office, again By W. Thomas Smith Jr. For the eighth-consecutive time since 1997, Leon Lawson Lott raised his right hand and was re-sworn as sheriff of Richland County, Tuesday morning, Jan. 7 at the Richland CountyContinue Reading
Columbia, SC — The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) is opening a new exit ramp from I-20 West to I-26 West on January 9, marking a significant step in Phase 2 of the Carolina Crossroads Project. The new ramp is expected to open late in the day to allowContinue Reading
A shooting on December 24 claimed the life of a 4-year-old child in the Harbison area of Lexington County. Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher has identified the victim as Jah’el E. Walker of Columbia. The child was shot while inside a vehicle in the 200 block of Harbison Boulevard andContinue Reading
Thirty influential leaders recognized as “movers and shakers” for 2024 By W. Thomas Smith Jr. Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott landed a lofty 3rd PLACE in the Post & Courier’s annual 30-person POWER LIST for Columbia, South Carolina, published Wednesday, Dec. 18. First place honors went to University of SouthContinue Reading
Seventeen new full-time firefighters have officially joined the Columbia-Richland Fire Department (CRFD) after completing weeks of tough training at the department’s fire academy. During a special graduation ceremony held in Columbia, Fire Chief Aubrey D. Jenkins administered the oath of office to the recruits from CRFD Recruit Class 2024-02. AfterContinue Reading
Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher has identified Brittany Rosalinda Valencia, 16, of Columbia, as the victim of a two-vehicle crash on St. Andrews Road on December 9. The accident occurred around 8:45 p.m. in the 4400 block of St. Andrews Road. Valencia was a passenger in an eastbound vehicle thatContinue Reading