Urgent Community Assistance Needed
(Friday, December 22, 2023, at approx 8:45pm) An armed robbery occurred at the Dollar General beside Ingles. A black male in a hoodie and mask demanded money, escaping with a sum of cash. The suspect fled in a grey vehicle, lights off, heading towards Chick-fil-A.
Our team is on-site reviewing surveillance footage. Help us identify the suspect or others involved. Please share any information or check your cameras if you're nearby.
Your support matters. Let's collaborate for our community's safety. Updates will be shared as we gather more information. Thank you for your cooperation.
Laurens County Sheriff's Office
Update 12/21: After further investigation, Smith’s charges have been upgraded to two counts of Murder.
Update 11/28:
The Laurens County Coroner's Office has identified the deceased from the Highway 14 incident to be 24 year old Marlene "Grace" Ables. The subject arrested is Camrin Jay Smith who has been charged with Involuntary Manslaughter with more charges pending.
Last night (11/25) at approximately 8:30pm, deputies responded to the 4000 block of Highway 14 in Laurens in reference to a shooting. Upon arrival, deputies observed a female to be deceased from an apparent gunshot wound. An individual on scene allegedly accidentally fired a gun at the victim and was taken into custody as a result. Identities of both the subject and the victim will be released pending the Laurens County Coroner’s Office notification process.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim’s family.
Eighth Circuit Solicitor’s Office
Career criminal sentenced
to 18 years in prison for
trafficking meth
NEWBERRY – A Whitmire man with long criminal history is headed to prison for 18 years after being sentenced Monday in Newberry County, 8th Circuit Solicitor David M. Stumbo announced last Tuesday.
Tarakus Otazeo Coleman, 31, of Whitmire, pleaded guilty in August 2023 to trafficking methamphetamine, 28 grams to 100 grams. Coleman’s sentencing hearing was deferred until Monday. Circuit Judge Frank R. Addy Jr. sentenced Coleman to 18 years in prison, time which will not be eligible for parole and of which a minimum of 85% of the time must be served in the Department of Corrections.
In the past 12 years, Coleman has two convictions for strong arm robbery, two convictions for burglary, and two other prior convictions for narcotics distribution.
In March 2023, Coleman sold about 170 grams, the equivalent of about six ounces, of methamphetamine to an undercover agent from the State Law Enforcement Division, who was assisting the Newberry Police Department in a multi-agency narcotics sting. The phone calls between undercover agents and Coleman leading up to the buy were recorded and preserved for evidence in the case.
Deputy Solicitor Taylor Daniel handled the case for the state. Coleman was represented by Derrick Mobley of the Newberry County Bar.
Solicitor Stumbo praised the work of his staff along with Newberry Police Department investigator Thomas “Scottie” Peay and SLED Agent Jonathan McWhite in securing the conviction and lengthy prison sentence.
“Our office is proud to report that another career criminal has been sent to prison to serve a long-term sentence,” Solicitor Stumbo said. “This sentence sends a clear message to guys like Tarakus Coleman who repeatedly disregard our laws and disrespect our communities. My prosecutors and I will continue to fight alongside our law enforcement partners to do everything in our power to rid our streets of deadly and destructive drugs.”
SLED INVESTIGATING OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING IN CHARLESTON COUNTY Agents from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) are investigating an officer involved shooting which occurred in the late evening of Tuesday, December 26, 2023, and into the early morning of Wednesday, December 27, 2023, in Charleston County. Officers with the North Charleston Police Department (NCPD) responded to a call about gunshots heard in the community. NCPD officers and deputies with the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) encountered an armed male subject near the intersection of Meeting Street and Dorchester Road. Following an attempted negotiation, NCPD officers and CCSO deputies shot at the armed subject, who was struck and died at the scene. The subject was identified as Winston Dunham, 33. No police officers or sheriff’s deputies were injured. SLED was requested to investigate by the North Charleston Police Department. This is an ongoing investigation. As such, no other information about the case will be disclosed by SLED at this time. SLED conducts law enforcement officer involved shooting (OIS) investigations at the request of the agency involved in the incident or the agency with jurisdiction. When requested to investigate an OIS, SLED’s goal is to conduct a thorough, independent criminal investigation as timely as is possible under the circumstances. SLED agents will conduct interviews with all potential witnesses in this matter. Further, SLED will collect all relevant evidence and will forensically test such evidence as needed. Information gathered in the SLED investigation of the incident will be summarized in a case file report to be submitted to prosecutors. The incident in Charleston County was the 41st officer involved shooting in South Carolina in 2023. This is the 1st officer involved shooting for the North Charleston Police Department this year. This is the 2nd officer involved shooting for the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office this year. In 2022, there were 32 officer involved shootings in South Carolina. The North Charleston Police Department had no officer involved shootings last year. The Charleston County Sheriff’s Office had 1 officer involved shooting last year.
SLED INVESTIGATING OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING IN GREENVILLE COUNTY Agents from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) are investigating an officer involved shooting which occurred the evening of Wednesday, December 27, 2023, in Greenville County. Deputies with the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence on Pequot Drive in Greenville, SC, in reference to a domestic violence call. Deputies encountered an armed male subject at the residence. Following an interaction between deputies and the armed male subject, deputies shot him. The armed male subject died at the scene. No deputies were injured. Details regarding the identity of the deceased will come from the Greenville County Coroner's Office. SLED was requested to investigate by the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office. This is an ongoing investigation. As such, no other information about the case will be disclosed by SLED at this time. SLED conducts law enforcement officer involved shooting (OIS) investigations at the request of the agency involved in the incident or the agency with jurisdiction. When requested to investigate an OIS, SLED’s goal is to conduct a thorough, independent criminal investigation as timely as is possible under the circumstances. SLED agents will conduct interviews with all potential witnesses in this matter. Further, SLED will collect all relevant evidence and will forensically test such evidence as needed. Information gathered in the SLED investigation of the incident will be summarized in a case file report to be submitted to prosecutors. The incident in Greenville County was the 42nd officer involved shooting in South Carolina in 2023. This is the 3rd officer involved shooting for the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office this year. In 2022, there were 32 officer involved shootings in South Carolina. The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office had 1 officer involved shooting last year.
Another shooting in Greenville County:
SLED INVESTIGATING OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING IN GREENVILLE COUNTY
Agents from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) are investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred the morning of Friday, December 29, 2023, in Greenville County.
Officers with the Mauldin Police Department responded to the area of Sarnesfield Way in Greenville County for a call about a possible car break-in. Officers encountered a red Ford Explorer and a white Nissan Rogue. The Nissan Rogue was reported stolen. During the encounter with the Nissan Rogue, officers fired at the vehicle. A vehicle chase between Mauldin Police Department officers and the Nissan Rogue followed. The chase stopped at the Greenville city limits, and the Nissan Rogue drove off. At this time, the subject(s) have not been identified. It is not known at this time if the subject(s) sustained injuries. No officers were injured. Anyone with information regarding the stolen vehicle and the subject(s) should contact the Mauldin Police Department. SLED was requested to investigate the officer involved shooting by the Mauldin Police Department.
This is an ongoing investigation. As such, no other information about the case will be disclosed by SLED at this time.
SLED conducts law enforcement officer involved shooting (OIS) investigations at the request of the agency involved in the incident or the agency with jurisdiction. When requested to investigate an OIS, SLED’s goal is to conduct a thorough, independent criminal investigation as timely as is possible under the circumstances. SLED agents will conduct interviews with all potential witnesses in this matter. Further, SLED will collect all relevant evidence and will forensically test such evidence as needed. Information gathered in the SLED investigation of the incident will be summarized in a case file report to be submitted to prosecutors.
The incident in Greenville County was the 43rd officer involved shooting in South Carolina in 2023. This is the 1st officer involved shooting for the Mauldin Police Department this year.
In 2022, there were 32 officer involved shootings in South Carolina. The Mauldin Police Department had no officer involved shootings last year.
SLED INVESTIGATING OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING IN SPARTANBURG COUNTY
Agents from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) are investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred the morning of Monday, January 1, 2024, in Spartanburg County.
A Spartanburg Methodist College armed campus safety officer encountered a white Ford F-150 driving the wrong way on a one-way street on the campus of Spartanburg Methodist College. During the attempted arrest of the male driver, a physical altercation ensued, and the campus safety officer shot the subject. The subject died at the scene. Information regarding the identity of the deceased will be provided by the Spartanburg County Coroner’s Office. No law enforcement officers were shot. The campus safety officer received medical treatment at the hospital for injuries sustained during the physical altercation. SLED was requested to investigate by Spartanburg Methodist Campus Safety.
This is an ongoing investigation. As such, no other information about the case will be disclosed by SLED at this time.
SLED conducts law enforcement officer involved shooting (OIS) investigations at the request of the agency involved in the incident or the agency with jurisdiction. When requested to investigate an OIS, SLED’s goal is to conduct a thorough, independent criminal investigation as timely as is possible under the circumstances. SLED agents will conduct interviews with all potential witnesses in this matter. Further, SLED will collect all relevant evidence and will forensically test such evidence as needed. Information gathered in the SLED investigation of the incident will be summarized in a case file report to be submitted to prosecutors.
The incident in Spartanburg County was the 1st officer involved shooting in South Carolina in 2024. This is the 1st officer involved shooting for Spartanburg Methodist College Campus Safety this year.
In 2023, there were 43 officer involved shootings in South Carolina. Spartanburg Methodist College Campus Safety had no officer involved shootings last year.
