Alert neighbors report alleged burglary
On the morning of June 15, residents in the area of the 100 block of Alljoy Road in Bluffton heard what appeared to be glass breaking, according to a police report.
They noticed a front window had been smashed at a neighbor’s house and said they saw a person moving around inside. Knowing the homeowner was at work, they called 911 and Beaufort County deputy sheriffs arrived within minutes and found a man inside with a pillowcase full of jewelry and other items, the report states. According to the report, there was a brick by a broken window.
Tyrell Smith, 25, of Hardeeville, was arrested and is being charged with second-degree burglary. He is being held in the Beaufort County Detention Center.
Man charged with murder in Big Estates shooting
Joseph Brown, 35, has been charged with murder and possession of a weapon in the commission of a violent crime in the recent shooting death of 61-year-old Ronnie Black in Big Estates Circle in Yemassee.
According to a police report, an autopsy showed that Black was shot multiple times and was hit with a blunt object.
Interviews of witnesses and other factors indicate that although Black was in possession of a handgun during the dispute, he did not point it at or threaten Brown with it, police say.
Brown is being held at the Beaufort County Detention Center.
Arrests are made in double shooting
Bluffton police recently made two arrests in connection with a double shooting and a third arrest in relation to a search warrant where drugs were allegedly found, according to a police report.
The police responded to a shooting at Goethe and Shults roads on June 3, where they found two gunshot victims.
Roy Leon Hamilton, 21, was found dead at the scene, and the other victim was airlifted to the hospital. Bluffton investigators arrested Thomas Bush, 29. He has been charged with murder and attempted murder.
The Bluffton Police Strategic Response Team then obtained an arrest warrant for 35-year-old Ricky Blake, and a warrant to search a home at 29 Bruin Road. Investigators then obtained additional narcotic search warrants leading to the arrest of Blake and Brian Mitchell, 28.
Blake has been charged with accessory to murder after the fact, accessory to attempted murder after the fact, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine within a half-mile of a school, possession with intent to distribute heroin, possession with intent to distribute heroin within a half-mile of a school and simple possession of marijuana.
Mitchell has been charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine within a half mile of a school, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession with intent to distribute marijuana within a half mile of a school, trafficking methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine within a half mile of a school, and possession of two controlled substances. A police report states that during the search they found 63.1 grams of marijuana, 14 grams of methamphetamine, 11.8 grams of cocaine, 1.5 grams of heroin and $495 in cash.
This investigation is ongoing, and the department encourages anyone with information to call Det. David Murphy at 843-706-4513 or the department’s Tip Hotline at 843-706-4560.
Sheriff warning: Woman scammed out of $1,700
The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office has received several reports in the past few days in north and south Beaufort County regarding scammers impersonating law enforcement officers.
In one recent incident, a man called woman on her cell phone and said he was with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office.
He told her that she had been sent a subpoena for jury duty and she had failed to appear. He said two warrants had been issued for her arrest for “failure to appear” and “contempt of court” and in order to avoid being arrested she would have to pay the fines associated with the warrants immediately, according to the sheriff’s department.
She was then told to go to Kroger on Hilton Head Island, purchase a Green Dot card, which is a prepaid cash card, and to stay on the telephone with him throughout the transaction. She was then directed by the scammer to scratch off the number on the back of the Green Dot card and provide it to him over the phone. The scammer then told her the arrest warrants would be recalled and she would receive an e-mail confirming receipt of payment.
The confirmation e-mail never came and the victim realized she had just been scammed for over $1,700.
This scam and variations have been reported in both north and south Beaufort County. The sheriff’s office recommends citizens hang up when receiving this type of call and under no circumstances should personal or financial information be revealed.
No member of the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office will ever ask a citizen for payment of a fine over the telephone or otherwise in lieu of being arrested.
Woman charged with strong arm robbery
A 32-year-old woman has been arrested and charged with strong arm robbery.
According to a Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office report, deputies responded to a home at the Lakes at Edgewater in Bluffton where a man said a woman whom he didn’t know knocked on his apartment door and asked for a glass of water. Because of the heat outside, he turned to get the water when she snuck up behind him and took his wallet from his back pocket, the report states.
The victim struggled with the woman and she punched him in the chest, took the money from his wallet, then ran and jumped in a white Dodge Ram pickup truck with two men inside, the report states.
A deputy spotted the truck on U.S. 278 going onto Hilton Head Island. The deputy following the pickup truck onto Spanish Wells Road and pulled it over.
The woman, identified as Amber Simmons, was positively identified by the male victim, who was driven to the location of the traffic stop by sheriff’s office deputies, according to the report. It was determined through the investigation that the male driver and other male occupant were not involved in the burglary/robbery incident. However, the male driver, of Dale, was driving under suspension. He was arrested and taken to the Beaufort County Detention Center for the driving offense. The other occupant was released.
According to the report, Simmons had the cash hidden in her bra and threw it at the investigators during an interview at the Hilton Head substation.
She has been charged with second-degree burglary and strong arm robbery. She was also charged with simple possession of marijuana. Simmons is being held at the Beaufort County Detention Center.
Attempted murder suspect arrested
The Beaufort Police have arrested a suspect in a recent shooting on Hogarth Street.
On June 10, officers responded to the scene and found a victim with a gunshot wound to the neck.
According to a police report, the victim and Isaiah Gadson Jr., 62, had gotten into a verbal fight in the parking lot of the Exxon at the corner of Boundary and Hogarth streets. The argument moved into the roadway of Hogarth Street, where the victim was shot one time. The victim and subject are acquaintances and the victim was able to identify the subject to police, the report states.
The victim was transported to Beaufort Memorial Hospital and the injury appeared to be non-life threatening.
Gadson turned himself in to the Beaufort Police Department, where he was arrested. He is being charged with attempted murder.
