Police Blotter - August 31, 2017

The following cases were taken from City of Charleston Police reports filed with Team 5 on Daniel Island between July 18, 2017 and Aug. 14, 2017. This is part two of a two part report.

Bicycle thefts

Officers were notified after a bicycle was taken from an apartment complex on River Landing Drive between July 30 and Aug. 1. The bicycle, a black mountain bike with white trim valued at $85, was stolen from the bicycle rack underneath one of the apartment buildings. This case is still under investigation.

In Smythe Park between 3 and 4 p.m. on Aug. 5, a grey beach cruiser valued at $400, with a combination lock that was attached under the seat, was taken. The complainant told police on Aug. 7 that her son was given permission to ride his grandfather’s bike. He then rode the bike to his friend’s house on the island. He last saw the bike parked at the end of the driveway. It was left unsecured. They used a nearby dock to go down to the water and came back later to retrieve the bike and it was gone. This case is still under investigation.

Simple assault

Police responded to a construction site on Fairchild Street about an assault that had occurred between construction workers. The police were advised that the employees had been in an argument over an extended period that escalated to one of them being approached while sitting in their vehicle. The employee who walked up to the vehicle physically grabbed the other employee in the shoulder area, and they reportedly got involved in a wrestling match outside of the vehicle. A third worker tried to intervene, at which point the employee who walked up assaulted both parties by striking them in their heads with closed fists. There were minor lacerations to the faces. Everyone was checked by EMS. No one wanted to be transported. The incident was witnessed by another employee, who advised officers that he wanted to prosecute the first employee.

Intimidation

A Daniel Island resident contacted police on Aug. 2 after a subject against whom she has an active restraining order in another state sent her a multiple page email. The victim advised that she will be returning to the area from where the restraining order came from and is concerned that there will be additional contact. The victim has also been in contact with the local police department and they are following up on the case.

General information

Police were contacted after a juvenile, who is in his mother’s primary custody, went to his father’s house on Aug. 4 around 4 p.m. The mother provided police with a signed court order regarding custody. Officers went and met with the juvenile who stated that he had gone to his father’s house on his own volition. Attorneys were contacted and they arranged to have the child returned to the mother’s residence.

Harassment cases

A Daniel Island man came into the police department on Aug. 4 to report that his estranged wife’s boyfriend was harassing him by telephone. The victim advised that on May 6, he received a text message from the suspect, who asked him about a recent injury and discussed golf. A restraining order had been previously placed against the boyfriend. The victim requested a report for harassment.

In another case, officers responded to a residence in the Peninsula subdivision in regards to a report of harassment on Aug. 4 that occurred between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. The victim stated that she had received harassing text messages from her male friend’s wife on Aug. 4 that were of a graphic sexual nature. The complainant believes that the suspect sent the text messages using a phone app to disguise her phone number. She’s had similar issues with similar messages in the past. This is still under investigation.

Drunkenness

An officer was called to a gas station on Clements Ferry Road on Aug. 7 at 3:30 p.m. in reference to an unknown subject urinating in public. The manager of the gas station stated that several patrons had told her that a white male trucker had exposed himself in broad daylight and relieved himself by the rear of the truck in the back parking lot. Officers found a truck that matched the vehicle’s description, knocked on the door and made contact with the offender, who was grossly intoxicated, according to the police report. There was an open, half-full beer in the cab. Human feces were also found by the driver’s side door and a roll of toilet paper placed between the rear of truck and the trailer. The officer took the offender into custody and charged him with public intoxication.

Officers responded to the Volvo Car Stadium in reference to an intoxicated party on Aug. 12 just before 11 p.m. The officer made contact with the offender who was lying on the ground semi-conscious with a strong odor of alcohol, slurred speech, bloodshot eyes and inability to stand up, according to the report. EMS was notified and evaluated the subject and determined he was fine to be released to his mother’s custody. The subject was cited for public intoxication and released.

Forgery/Counterfeiting

On Aug. 10, a man came into the police station in reference to a counterfeit check. The victim advised that he had agreed on July 18 to work for an online company as a mystery shopper. He completed the tasks that were required for employment and was compensated with a cashier’s check for a few thousand dollars. He deposited the check on Aug. 1. The victim further advised that on Aug. 4 he was notified by the bank that the check was counterfeit. This is still under investigation. According to Lt. Byrne, white collar crime officers are investigating.

Shoplifting

Police were notified earlier this month after two white teenage females were seen taking beer from a gas station on Daniel Island just before 8 p.m. The clerk advised that she saw them coming in and the next time she saw them they were leaving the store. As they were leaving, the clerk noticed a beer hanging from one of the female’s skirts. The clerk asked about the beer and the teenager acknowledged her and set the beer down. Two additional 12-ounce beer cans were found later in the female restroom. This is still under investigation.

DUI arrest

Police responded to a collision on the Wando River Bridge on Aug. 13 just before 5 a.m. where one party ran in to the other. Both parties were Daniel Island residents. The victim in the collision was transported for evaluation. The subject was tested for DUI and failed the field sobriety test and was subsequently taken to the Berkeley County Detention Center.

Impersonation

A woman told police on Aug. 14 that she had been receiving collection letters in the mail between July 4 and 22 from different businesses regarding checks that were written by someone with the same last name and same address but a different telephone number. The victim stated that she does not know anyone by that name and the checks were written from her bank account. Some of the checks were written out of state. The victim is working with the collection agencies trying to get issue rectified.