Police Blotter - October 15, 2015

Thomas Island vehicle accident
Police and rescue personnel from multiple entities responded to a car accident on Thomas Island on October 8 that resulted in several victims being transported to local hospitals.
The emergency call came in just after 9 a.m., after two vehicles collided on Thomas Island Drive. According to Cainhoy Fire & Rescue, one of the responders, crews arrived to find two vehicles heavily damaged and four patients, all with injuries. Two of the patients were entrapped, stated Cainhoy Fire & Rescue Chief Steve Goodwin. An infant was reportedly critically injured, one adult was seriously injured, and another adult and child received minor injuries. The road was closed and fire crews remained on the scene for several hours while the accident was investigated. In addition to Cainhoy Fire & Rescue, other responders included the South Carolina Highway Patrol, the City of Charleston Fire Department, North Charleston Fire Department, Berkeley County EMS, Charleston County EMS, Charleston Police Department, and Berkeley County Sheriff’s Department. The conditions of the patients were not released.
Thefts and break-ins
City of Charleston police stationed at Team 5 on Daniel Island continue to investigate a break-in that occurred at Stockade Storage on the island on September 26.
According to Team 5 Commander Lt. James Byrne, the suspects in the case cut through fencing to gain access to the site and proceeded to break locks on dozens of storage units. Items inside many of the units, however, were reportedly left untouched. Approximately eight units had items stolen, added Lt. Byrne. Police were expected to review surveillance video recorded at the scene. No arrests have been made as of yet.
During the weekend of September 11-13, an unlocked vehicle was reported stolen from the Cain Crossing neighborhood off Clements Ferry Road. The incident marked the first stolen vehicle in the Team 5 jurisdiction in over a year, said Lt. Byrne. The car was described as a maroon Lincoln “Town Car.”
In a separate incident, a stolen vehicle was recovered off Clements Ferry Road on September 18. The car had been burned, stated Lt. Byrne, who added that police are looking into the possibility that the vehicle was stolen from Mount Pleasant. On the topic of vehicle thefts, Lt. Byrne noted that Team 5 has investigated reports of three stolen golf carts so far this year on Daniel Island. All three were recovered. In each case, it appeared the suspects were interested in taking the golf carts to do some “joy riding,” said Lt. Byrne. He encouraged island residents to be sure to take measures to secure their property.
“Golf carts are so accessible,” he said. “And expensive to repair and replace.”
Lt. Byrne also stated that thefts were reported at the end of the summer season of equipment and supplies from local landscaping crews. Some of the materials have been recovered, but no arrests have been made. Additionally, a firearm was reported stolen from a vehicle parked at a home in the Center Park area sometime between August 15 and August 20. However, because the victim in the case had been in several locations during this time period, police are not certain the gun theft occurred on Daniel Island.
Noise
Police are also stepping up efforts to lessen noise impacts to the community during concerts and other special events, noted Lt. Byrne. Some of their recent tactics are to have an off-duty officer, provided by concert/facility staff, monitor exterior noise conditions, and then another officer stationed at the sound technician booth inside the facility to relay concerns immediately. These are two new positions in addition to what you would normally see at a concert, added Lt. Byrne. Officers will continue to look for violations after the concert as crowds disperse, he said.
Bike Safety
Team 5 officers will join the Daniel Island School PTA and Cooper River Cycles on Saturday, October 18, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. for a Bike Safety Bonanza. The event will feature complimentary bike registrations, safety checks, minor repairs, adjustments, proper helmet fitting, instructions for effective locking, and some real safety instruction right on school grounds where proper crosswalk and sidewalk safety procedures can be practiced.