Police Blotter

KATIE ESTABROOK
katie@thedanielislandnews.com

The following cases were taken from City of Charleston Police reports filed with Team 5 on Daniel Island between June 28 and July 19, 2017.
Simple assault
Officers were dispatched to a residence in reference to a past child abuse complaint on June 28. The original incident took place on June 6. The complainant told the police that she witnessed the offender violently shaking their 7-month-old baby. After being taken to the hospital, it was determined that the baby was okay. The offender has signed a “No Contact Agreement” for 45 days.
DSS was also alerted of the incident and is investigating.
Death investigation
An officer was called to an apartment complex on Seven Farms Drive on July 3 just after noon in reference to a death. The victim was found deceased in his apartment by his brother-in-law. There were no signs of foul play or anything suspicious. The victim had a history of medical conditions and was found in a natural position on the bed with the front door locked and secure.
Bicycle theft
Officers responded in reference to a stolen bicycle complaint on the afternoon of July 4 on Island Park Drive. The complainant advised that an unknown person had taken the beach cruiser, valued at $300, without his permission. The bike had been parked unsecured at the bike rack. There was another similar bike on the scene that was the same make and model but had noticeable damage, so the complainant does not believe it to be a case of mistaken identity.
A picture has been posted on Facebook by the complainant, but the bike has not been returned.
Police were called on July 6 in reference to another stolen bicycle, this one from the Talison Row apartment community. The complainant advised that an unknown person had taken his road bike, valued at $400, without his permission. The bicycle was last seen in the morning when the complainant left for work and he noticed it missing when he arrived home at 5:30 p.m. The bicycle was left unsecured in the parking garage, but currently has two flat tires and is unrideable.
The victim provided police a picture of the bike, but it has not been returned.
General information
A hoax call was made to dispatch in reference to an assault with a firearm just before midnight on July 5. Dispatch advised that a 16-year-old caller had reported that his father had been shot and there was a juvenile being held in the house. Officers responded to a residence in the Peninsula subdivision off of Clements Ferry Road and found that the call was a hoax. Team 5 made contact with the residents and determined that everything was fine.
According to Lt. James Byrne, commanding officer for Team 5, they received two hoax calls to the same residence within two days. The case is still under investigation.
In a separate case, an officer met with a complainant just after 9 a.m. on July 6 in reference to her driving over a metal object. The complainant advised that driving over the object caused her knee to slam into the door and that her car began to vibrate, something it was not doing prior to driving over the object.
Theft
A theft of a cell phone was reported from Bishop England High School on Seven Farms Drive on July 6. The complainant told police that the phone was sitting on top of her bag while she was working out. When she came back after working out, it was missing. Video showed a juvenile who was not a student at the high school taking the phone. The phone was tracked and returned. Charges were made against the offender.
Vandalism
An officer responded to a warehouse on Clements Ferry Road in response to a car being vandalized on July 7. The victim stated that her two rear tires were cut with a sharp instrument sometime between when she went to work at 2 p.m. and when she returned just before midnight. Video was reviewed by security, however the car was out of view. No other property in the area was damaged. There was no other evidence found on scene. The victim was unable to provide suspect information to the police, as she only recently relocated to Charleston. The vehicle was towed.
Arrest
A Team 5 detective stopped a vehicle for an illegal lane change on Clements Ferry Road and 526 on July 10 just before 9 a.m. The detective discovered that the driver had an active arrest warrant with the Summerville Police Department and a suspended license. The driver was taken to the detention center.
Credit card/ATM fraud
A previous employee of a company on Clements Ferry Road who was terminated in January of this year was reported by the company to police for using the company credit card number to purchase online advertisements valued at over $3000 between June 5 and June 30. The complainant told police that while the offender was employed with the company, he was authorized to use the company credit card to make advertisement purchases. This case is still under investigation.
Impersonation
An impersonation that occurred between July 9 and 10 was reported to police on July 13. The complainant told police that on Sunday, July 9, his wife, son and daughter notified him that their cell phones had stopped working. The next day, the complainant was advised that those three phones had been upgraded at a Best Buy in California. After speaking with the cell phone company’s fraud department and Best Buy, it was determined that a man had used a fake ID with the victim’s information on it to purchase three new phones and charged them to the victim’s cell phone account.
A police department in California is assisting Team 5 with gathering information.
Larceny
A larceny involving a debit card occurred on July 18 at a gas station on Clements Ferry Road between 4:30 and 5 p.m. While filling a cup at the drink fountain, the victim unknowingly dropped her debit card on the ground. A man, who was standing in line, proceeded to kick the card over to another man, presumably his friend, who then picked up the card. They both then immediately walked out, stealing the victim’s card. The card was deactivated and warrants are set to be issued this week, according to Byrne.
BCSO reports stolen vehicles, firearm and meth arrest
A reserve deputy with the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office was on patrol in the boat landing area of Huger State Park on the evening of July 15 when he observed a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck and a Mazda MX-3 parked beside each other, which were both determined by police to be stolen.
In the Silverado, the police found a Stevens Model 67 Series 20, 20 gauge shotgun within reach of the driver’s seat, which was determined by police to have been stolen from Williamsburg County. The truck also contained Ruger SR9 9mm pistol with an obliterated serial number, a crossbow and a cigarette pack containing 3.88 grams of a substance that field tested presumptive to be methamphetamine content. The driver of the Silverado was identified as Charles William Litchfield, who is a convicted felon and is prohibited to have a firearm.
The Mazda contained bolt cutters, hammers and other tools commonly used for criminal activity. The vehicle also contained .01 grams of a substance that field tested presumptive to be methamphetamine content and a stolen license plate from a Ford Mustang. The driver of the Mazda was determined to be Jennifer Diane Rumbough.
Both were charged on numerous accounts and as of last week were being held at the Hill Finklea Detention Center pending the posting of a bond.
“This was some great police work and I am glad to have reserve deputies out there serving the citizens of Berkeley County,” Sheriff Duane Lewis stated in a press release. “This case highlights the important work that the reserve deputies do, they work for no pay and do so to serve their community – sometimes putting themselves in risky situations in order to help keep the criminal elements in Berkeley County in check.”