Landscaper target of armed robbery with knife on Daniel Island
Wed, 05/07/2025 - 9:41am
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Concert-goer taken to jail; gun stolen from pickup truck
By:
Elizabeth Horton, News@thedanielislandnews.com
The following incidents were taken from the City of Charleston Police Department’s crime reports within Team 5, which covers Daniel Island, Clements Ferry Road, and parts of Cainhoy, between April 16-30.
Armed Robbery
On Wednesday morning, April 16 at 9:15 a.m., an officer with the Charleston Police Department responded to Oak Leaf Street after an aggravated assault and attempted robbery was reported by a witness.
Upon arrival, the officer located the victim, Rolando Arrazate-Ramirez, age 49, of Hanahan, who was lying on the sidewalk, suffering from a stab wound on the left side of his chest.
A few feet from the victim, police said, a medium-sized, kitchen-type knife with a white handle was located. Arrazate-Ramirez was transported to MUSC by Berkeley County EMS.
Earlier that day, Arrazate-Ramirez, who is a landscaper, and his son were picked up by a coworker who drove them to a location where their crew meets before going to a job site.
They were taken to a residence on Daniel Island where they were scheduled to provide landscaping services.
While using a leaf blower, Arrazate-Ramirez said he observed a dark sedan driven by a female, with a male in the passenger seat and another male in the back seat.
According to the police report, Arrazate-Ramirez told an investigator that the vehicle turned around and passed by one more time, then a male suspect jumped out of the sedan and approached him from behind, wrapping his arms around the victim.
Arrazate-Ramirez told police the suspect held the knife against his chest and demanded his wallet. A struggle ensued, and Arrazate-Ramirez said he was able to push the knife to prevent it from being thrust further into his chest.
Police said the suspect grabbed Arrazate-Ramirez’s back pocket and ripped it in an attempt to get the wallet as the knife fell to the ground. The victim said he was able to gain possession of the knife, and the suspect fled jumping into the sedan and was driven away by the second suspect.
The victim had approximately $12,000 in his wallet and was adamant that he did not display the cash he was carrying during the morning hours. He stated that he had never seen either of the suspects.
Following an investigation, police arrested Damone Gene Sheppard, 24, of North Charleston, on April 23, charging him with attempted armed robbery, assault and battery, first degree, and possession of a knife during the commission of a violent crime.
According to a press release from the Charleston Police Department, detectives determined that Sheppard was employed by the same landscaping company at the time of the incident.
The vehicle’s driver, Keyausiane Kristen Gough-Beaufort, 25, also of North Charleston, was arrested and charged with attempted armed robbery and assault and battery, first degree.
Both suspects are currently being held at the Hill-Finklea Detention Center.
Anyone with additional information is asked to contact the Charleston Police Department at 843-720-2422 and ask to speak with the on-duty central detective. Tips can also be submitted online at charleston-sc.gov/tips.
Burglary/Breaking & Entering
On April 21, an officer responded to a medical office construction site on Waterline Street after tools were reported missing. A superintendent for the construction company said that workers discovered two containers had been broken into. The locks on the 40-foot by 9-foot shipping containers appeared to have been cut.
The electrical supervisor on site advised that the area had been secured two days earlier. The company reported that tools valued at $4,450 were stolen and included battery-powered nail guns, batteries, and a pipe threader. In addition, three workers stated that their personal tools, estimated at $1,060, had been removed. Footage from the security cameras on the property has been requested by Team 5.
While the officer was meeting with the superintendent, he was approached by the HVAC foreman for the project, who added that two additional containers had been broken into during the same time frame.
The supervisor noticed that the locks had been cut and the doors were open when he arrived for work. About 200 feet of copper tubing was stolen from the unit. The investigation is pending.
Stolen Property
A vehicle with a stolen license plate was found parked and occupied at Island Park Drive on April 22. Team 5 initiated a stop, and the driver said that he had rented the vehicle, which was verified through Enterprise Car Rental.
The license plate was confirmed stolen in Baltimore, Maryland, through the National Crime Information Center. The driver said that he saw the Maryland license plate on the vehicle when he picked it up as a rental. Police noted that the switch of the tags happened in Baltimore before the car made it to North Charleston.
Public Disorderly Conduct
An officer was working in an off-duty capacity during a concert at Credit One Stadium on Seven Farms Drive on April 25. Earlier in the evening, an attendee was asked to leave due to intoxication and complaints that he was disturbing other guests. He told police that he was going to get a rideshare and leave the area.
At 10:40 p.m., a citizen approached the officer and explained that the suspect was in a parking lot on Seven Farms Drive threatening to fight other individuals. As the officer approached the individual, he was in a fighting stance and was yelling at drivers attempting to leave the parking lot. The suspect was taken into custody, charged with public disorderly conduct, and transported by the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office. A court hearing is scheduled in May.
Theft from a Motor Vehicle
A theft from a motor vehicle occurred during the overnight hours on April 29. The complainant’s pickup truck was parked at an apartment complex on Hopewell Drive. The next morning, the glove compartment and center console were found to be rummaged through. The complainant said he was missing a wallet, a driver’s license, credit and debit cards, and a pistol valued at $750. There were no signs of forced entry. Two attempts of ATM withdrawals were documented, but both transactions were declined. The apartment complex has security cameras, and a request has been made for a review of the footage.