Beheading in Downtown Greenville [Update: Suspects Caught]
Please scroll down for updates.
A beheading that took place in downtown Greenville wasn’t an honor killing, it was an act of vandalism. Police say a pair of vandals removed the head of a brick sculpture across from the Peace Center on Main Street.
Greenville Police caught the two on camera scoping out the statue, taking off the head, and then taking off with it. “It’s fairly difficult to damage, but they seemed to do so,“ says Sgt. Jason Rampey with Greenville Police.
After going on a joy ride, investigators say the culprits came back, head in hand. “Maybe they thought if they returned it, it was like no harm no foul, but they’ve caused damage to the statue.“
The city of Greenville is looking into repairing the art, but there is no cost estimate at this time. Greenville Police hope the vandals will have a tough time keeping mum about their mischief, and that their loose lips will lead to an arrest.
Update, Feb. 10, 2010:
[Two 16-year-olds have been charged with malicious damage to the sculpture, a misdemeanor. The case will be dealt with in the juvenile court system, and both teens have been released into their parents' custody.
Vandals Cause $10,000 in Damage at 8 Greer Homes
Eight homes in Greer were targeted by vandals Saturday, causing more than $10,000 in damages. Mailboxes and cars are among the damaged property, according to the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office.
Responding deputies observed that a mailbox with an attached pole had been thrown through the rear windshield of the car. Deputies were able to locate an address from the mailbox that led them to the owner’s home, who was also a victim of malicious damage to the mailbox. During the investigation, deputies discovered that several other cars and mailboxes had been damaged on other area streets.
The vandalism occurred on Windward Way, Crosswinds Street, Bransfield Drive, Silverleaf Street, and Hedgewood Terrace, and was reported around 7 a.m. on Saturday.
Incidentally, this vandalism spree in Greer coincides with a Greenville News report that crime in Greer was down 10 percent in 2009.
Of course, once you wade through the Greenville News spin you’ll find that crime didn’t actually drop, it’s just that Greer Police didn’t have the resources to pursue as many cases. “Part of this is due to some shortages we’ve experienced and not having the time to do some proactive stuff or police work as much as we were last year,” explained Greer Police Chief Dan Reynolds.
Stolen Forklift Used to Steal Wachovia ATM
If you’re going to steal an entire ATM, you’re going to need some heavy machinery. And if you’re a thief, why buy a forklift when you can just steal one?
Greenville County deputies say thieves stole a forklift from a construction site near the Shoppes at Green Ridge and used it to pry a Wachovia ATM right out of the ground.
The robbery happened at the Wachovia Bank at 1174 Woodruff Road just before 5 a.m.
Deputies said that when they arrived, they found a forklift and broken cables, but no ATM. They said that surveillance video from the bank is being looked at in an effort to identify the thieves.
The bank was closed today for the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.
The thieves loaded the cash machine onto a vehicle and fled the scene, but not before triggering an alarm that alerted deputies to the crime. No suspects have been identified at this time.
One Arrested After Suspicious Truck Fire
A truck belonging to Furniture Market Place in Greenville was damaged in a “suspicious” fire Monday morning, police said.
Firefighters said they arrived at the intersection of Augusta and Potomac roads at about 6:15 a.m. and found a truck ablaze. The truck belonged to Furniture Market Place. They said that the cause of the fire was suspicious.
Police said that a man was arrested shortly after officers arrived at the scene.
The tires were slashed on another truck belonging to the store. The identity of the suspect is not available at this time.
Pot Smoking Vandals Attack Christmas Decorations in Simpsonville
Four 17-year-old boys, seemingly under the influence of marijuana, caused nearly $1,000 worth of damage to Simpsonville residents’ Christmas displays before being pulled over for driving erratically. Police found marijuana on two of the teens and all were charged with malicious damage of private property.
From WYFF:
SIMPSONVILLE, S.C. — Deputies said that four teenagers are accused of destroying Christmas decorations at several Simpsonville homes.
Greenville County deputies said that they were investigating a report of damage done to a 6-foot tall snowman on Dylan Oaks drive when they saw a dark-color SUV driving erratically on Wolf Run Road.
Deputies stopped the SUV and said they determined that the four 17 year olds in it were responsible for the damage.
Wesley Batson, Hayden Calvert, Zachery Mauldin and Matthew Trojan, all of Simpsonville, are charged with malicious damage to personal property. Batson and Calvert are also charged with possession of marijuana. Deputies said that they found the marijuana after the teens were arrested.
WYFF also has a listing of the damage just in case some kind hearted readers would like to help the families replace their decorations. They also have the mugshots of the teens so that you can shake your heads ruefully at them if you see them out and about. Public shaming works people, let’s get to it.
Fox Carolina has video.