4 men charged with attempted murder WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014
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BY ROB COTTINGHAM rcottingham@theitem.com (803) 774-1225
SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894 3 SECTIONS, 24 PAGES | VOL. 119, NO. 179
Four area men are facing attempted murder charges in three separate incidents that occurred between Friday and Tuesday. Keon Taff Jackson, 23, of 27 Shuler Drive; Duane Trouble Miller, 55, of 40 Whiffet Lane; and Kajaun Quashie Frierson-Rose, 22, and his brother, Deandre Alvonta Frierson-Rose, 18, both of 1145
Narrow Paved Road in Lynchburg, have all been arrested and charged with attempted murder by local law enforcement in connection to three unrelated shootings that took place in the past week. According to reports, Jackson was arrested Monday after an investigation revealed he drove the getaway vehicle for an attempted armed robbery allegedly committed by a 15-year-old Friday night. The teen, whose identity is being withheld, was attempting to rob a
convenience store owner outside the man’s home in the 2400 block of Peach Orchard Road when the businessman’s son came out of the house to help his father. When the 27-year-old came out, the 15-yearold suspect then reportedly shot him in the right shoulder. The teenager then fled the scene but was found shortly after. Sumter County Sheriff Dennis is insisting the youth be tried as an adult
SEE CHARGES, PAGE A6
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Deputy Angela Wadsworth steps forward to light candles for the seven local law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. The officers were recognized during the annual prayer breakfast hosted by the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office and Sumter Police Department. The lighting came as Chief Sheriff’s Deputy Wesley Gardner, right, read the poem “Final Inspection.”
Event dedicated to those who died in the line of duty
‘He was a big Teddy bear’ Friday blood drive honors fallen officer BY BRISTOW MARCHANT bmarchant@theitem.com (803) 774-1272
BY BRISTOW MARCHANT bmarchant@theitem.com (803) 774-1272
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even men dedicated to serving their community. Seven men who went out to do their duty one day and never came back. Every year, National Police Week recognizes law enforcement officers who gave their lives in the line of duty. On Tuesday, Sumter’s law enforcement community remembered seven local officers who made the ultimate sacrifice during the annual prayer breakfast co-hosted by the
SEE BREAKFAST, PAGE A6
Officer 1st Class Rodney McFadden holds a photo of his former training officer, Cpl. Chuck Nesbitt. Nesbitt died in the line of duty in a 2011 car crash. Ever since, Sumter Police Department has hosted an annual blood drive in Nesbitt’s honor. The fourth-annual Nesbitt blood drive will be held Friday at Sumter County Library.
Chuck Nesbitt was a good friend, a dedicated police officer, and, in his lighter moments, a prankster. Sumter police officer Rodney McFadden was standing outside his patrol car with Nesbitt one day, “when he had somebody drive up beside me to distract me,” McFadden said, “and he stuck a piece of gum in the keyhole in the door.” “I had to stand there and
SEE BLOOD DRIVE, PAGE A6
No decisions made to determine fate of seized dogs BY ROB COTTINGHAM rcottingham@theitem.com (803) 774-1225 The fate of more than 25 dogs seized during a drug raid in Rembert this past weekend remains uncertain, as a magistrate court judge postponed any decision on how the animals will ultimately be treated. Sumter County Chief Magistrate Kristi Curtis granted a continuance Tuesday during a post-seizure hearing that
would have allowed the animals’ owners to try to make their case to reclaim the pit bull terriers. The dog owners — Kevin Lamont Loney and his wife, Connie, and Norman Christopher Workman — were all also arrested in the weekend bust that led law enforcement to seize nearly a quarter-million dollars in illegal drugs. During those raids, deputies with the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office also came across
the pit bull terriers and what they say was a pit used to fight the dogs. During Tuesday’s hearing, Cathy Ward, an attorney representing the government, suggested the court hold a joint hearing to consider the matter because both the Loneys and Workman seemed to have ownership of some of the dogs at both places the animals were found. And while Workman admitted during the hearing that he owned dogs at
both residences and did not oppose his case being considered at the same time as the Loneys, attorneys for the Loneys objected to the idea. There are still no charges of actual animal cruelty against either the Loneys or Workman, and the state moved to dismiss the Loneys altogether if they relinquished ownership of all dogs seized during the investigation. Ward also expressed a concern for the expenses that
would come from having the terriers in government control. While asking for a delay in the hearing, Workman said he would pay for the dogs’ caretaking until an agreed-upon future court date. Workman said he needed the delay to gather paperwork from his veterinarian documenting ownership and care of the dogs. Curtis set another hearing in the case for Friday, May 23, at 10 a.m.