Deputies in Lexington County are investigating a shooting that began Tuesday morning with a domestic-related call to a home near Gilbert. According to investigators, a woman was shot by her husband during the incident at their home on Haskell Road. The man fled the house, prompting deputies to launch a searchContinue Reading
Yturria becomes first Hispanic officer to hold second-highest rank in the department’s 200-plus-year history. By W. Thomas Smith Jr. Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) Deputy Chief Maria Yturria became the highest-ranking Hispanic officer in the near-1,000-employee department when she was promoted from major to chief, earlier this month. AsContinue Reading
Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher has released the autopsy results for Bessie Durham, 63, of Columbia who died on September 15 in a bathroom in the Belk Store in the Columbiana Mall. Durham’s body was found days later in that same bathroom on September 19 by a co-worker. A forensicContinue Reading
A Columbia man was shot to death while he and his brother, who was also shot, were riding on Edmund Highway late Saturday night. Harold Lord Peak III, 22, died of multiple gunshot wounds at the scene, according to Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher. “Based on what the victim’s brotherContinue Reading
Lexington County deputies have arrested a man accused of shooting his stepson September 19. The shooting victim has been identified as 52-year-old Brian Garris, according to Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher. Carl Sims, 71, will be charged with murder in the shooting death, according to Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon.Continue Reading
A Lexington County woman is accused of stabbing her neighbor at the victim’s home Monday night. Brenda Sue Jeffcoat, 60, is charged with attempted murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, according to arrest warrants. “Deputies responded to a home on Doe Trail Court shortly before 11Continue Reading
Lexington County deputies have arrested a man accused of shooting his stepson Sunday afternoon. The shooting victim has been identified as 52-year-old Brian Garris, according to Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher. Carl Sims, 71, will be charged with murder in the shooting death, according to Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon.Continue Reading
Eight recipients from five agencies honored by church on Servant Leader Sunday By W. Thomas Smith Jr. Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) Investigator Molly Nations and RCSD Corporal Keegan Gilbert both received SERVANT LEADERSHIP AWARDs from Columbia’s Eastminster Presbyterian Church following a special awards luncheon, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, theContinue Reading
Capt. Jesse Laintz, commander of the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department’s major crimes unit, has graduated from the FBI’s National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. “Jesse’s completion of this prestigious national program will benefit the Sheriff’s Department and help us continue to provide our citizens with excellent law enforcement services,” Lexington CountyContinue Reading
Deputies have served as Red Lobster waitstaff for three days, once a year, for nearly 20 years By W. Thomas Smith Jr. COPS AND LOBSTERS, a three-day annual fund-raising event is in full swing (as of this writing) at two Midlands-area Red Lobster restaurants: One at the 10136Two Notch RoadContinue Reading
How the Richland County Sheriff’s Department continues to lead from the front By W. Thomas Smith Jr. I’ve frequently written about specific historic FIRSTS achieved by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) in terms of law enforcement, community outreach, security and protection of those serving within our department: Everything fromContinue Reading