“Coyote” Safe House Found in Greenville?
S.W.A.T. teams were called out to a house in Greenville County after a hostage situation was called into police. After a stand off ALL seven people found in the house were detained and police will not release their names or anything but the most basic information.
SLED officers told WSPA that the bust was related to the “growing drug trade’ in the area:
A hostage situation unfolded as SLED agents rushed to the scene.
In the end–more than half a dozen people were taken into custody–in what agents say is part of a growing drug trade in the Upstate.
This all unfolded on Sulfar Springs drive in Berea this afternoon.
News Channel 7 was the only news crew at the scene.
Agents handcuffed 7 people, taking them into custody.
The director of SLED tells us they got word this morning that three people were being held hostage inside the home.
SLED isn’t able to say how they were alerted to the hostage situation.
When swat team members and agents got there–a standoff ensued until the suspects inside surrendered.
Agents are still trying to determine who is who amongst those in the house. And they can’t yet give identities or where the suspects are from.
Significantly, while weapons were found at the house no drugs have been reported. Human smugglers are often also involved in drug smuggling so these thugs may have gotten on to LE radar during drug investigations. It is a common practice for “coyotes” to hold people who contracted with them to hostage for extra cash. It is especially likely when the illegals are young women, who the smuggling gangs force into prostitution.
WSPA has raw video of the arrests.The house was on Sulfar Spring Drive in Berea.
Word on the street is that a bad apple looking for drugs or hookers turned Good Samaritan when he or she saw what was going on.
Also a rumor Dr. Know sent me is that MS-13 has been smuggling illegals into South Carolina for years and have moved into Greenville County. I found a 2006 story from WIS10 which details Richland county’s problems with the gang and they are very active in North Carolina.
But again these are just rumors for now. We’ll keep digging.
Berea 6th Grader Arrested for “People to Kill” List
The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office is calling it a prank, but parents of Berea Middle School students aren’t so sure.
A 12-year-old student in the sixth grade at Berea Middle School was charged Thursday with disturbing the school after deputies say she compiled a “people to kill” list. The list contained the names of eight students, and was left on the floor outside the assistant principal’s office.
A sixth-grader was questioned and charged with disturbing school, however, officials said there was no indication the girl intended to carry out the plan. According to a press release from the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, the girl was not in possession of any type of weapon, and she told the deputy the note was just a prank.
Parents of the students on the list were notified by school officials.
Pamela Campbell says her husband got a call from the principal saying their grandson was on the list. She is her grandson’s guardian.
“That’s just not normal,” she said of the note. “You just don’t write stuff like that down.”
The girl was released into her parents custody. Her case will be heard in family court and she has been suspended from school with a possible expulsion pending.
Let’s hope this is a wake-up call for her family. This is a textbook cry for help. Whether or not she had a weapon is moot. Pranks involving “people to kill” lists are dangerous territory, and a clear sign that it’s time to get this kid the help she’s obviously reaching out for.