CRIME REPORTS: Sumter County Sheriff's Office makes arrests for driving offenses, drug possession, fraud

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The Sumter County Sheriff's Office provided the following reports consisting of driving offenses, possession of meth, financial transaction card theft and fraud.

FEB. 24

A woman reported that a man, Len Edward Burrows, 52, of Dalzell, stole her Bank of America credit card while it was in her wallet in her home.

The woman stated that Burrows was at her home doing some work for her and was going in and out of the home as he worked. She also stated that her wallet was laying on a table out in the open.

After receiving a call from the bank advising her that someone was trying to use her card and it was declined, the woman realized her credit card was gone.

After calling one of the places where the card was used, an employee described a man fitting Burrows' description.

The woman also stated that later that evening, she received a call from SAFE Federal Credit Union that possible fraudulent transactions had been made for $467. Thomas said that she had her SAFE card in her possession, so it had been compromised.

Burrows was arrested and charged with two counts of financial transaction card theft and one count of financial transaction card fraud.

MARCH 13

A Sumter man and woman were both charged with possession of meth and given a citation for drug paraphernalia during a traffic stop at a Kangaroo Express convenience store on Broad Street.

At 3:31 p.m., after a deputy conducted a traffic stop for a silver Honda Accord with a busted windshield, the driver, Melissa Ann Geddings, 48, of Aignathser Lane, was asked to provide her driver's license, registration and insurance, but she could only provide her driver's license and insurance.

The deputy noticed Geddings' hands were shaking, and she didn't talk much. While speaking with Geddings, the passenger, Ronald Joseph Berry, 49, of Aignathser Lane, got out of the vehicle and said he was going into the convenience store.

The deputy instructed Berry to have a seat in the vehicle and asked Geddings to step out of the vehicle and talk at the back of her car.

The deputy asked Geddings if there was anything inside the car, and she said no and gave consent to search the vehicle.

Berry was asked to step out of the vehicle, as well as a rear passenger. Both subjects were patted down for weapons.

While searching the vehicle, the deputy found a clear glass pipe used for smoking meth inside Geddings' purse. On the passenger floor board, the deputy found a black fanny pack that had multiple glass pipes, torch lighters and a scale that had white residue on it.

During the search of Berry, a clear bag containing suspected meth was found inside the left front pocket of his shorts.

Another deputy arrived and searched Geddings. When Geddings was asked to open her mouth, a small glass jar containing suspected meth was found inside.

The rear passenger was also searched, but nothing was found on the subject.

Berry and Geddings were arrested and transported to Sumter County Sheriff's Office Detention Center. Geddings was also given a warning for the busted windshield.

A Sumter man was arrested after attempting to flee from a deputy and for stolen property offenses.

At about 4:17 p.m., deputies observed a silver Audi that was reported to be used in connection to a possible kidnapping on North Lafayette Drive. Deputies followed the vehicle, which took off at a high rate of speed.

After following the vehicle down Wilson Street and losing it on Colonial Street, more units were dispatched to the area. The vehicle was found behind an abandoned residence.

Deputies observed a subject go into a residence two houses down from the abandoned residence.

Deputies were able to apprehend the subject, who was identified as Antonio Eugene Johnson Sr., 32, of South Lafayette Drive, out from the residence. The key to the vehicle was in Johnson's pocket, and he admitted to driving it.

A check through Department of Motor Vehicles showed a sixth-offense driving suspension and that Johnson was deemed a habitual offender. The vehicle also had a stolen tag that was reported out of Sumter County.

Johnson was placed in custody and transported to the detention center.

A Sumter man was charged with a third-offense driving suspension after attempting to flee from deputies off Manning Avenue.

While stationed on Manning Avenue, a deputy observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed down the road at about 9:10 p.m.

The deputy followed the vehicle as it turned onto Webb Avenue, then onto Whitehorse Street and pulled into a yard. The driver, who was identified as Damion Dequan Washington, 25, of Webb Avenue, then fled on foot.

The deputy knew Washington's residence based on previous encounters and went to his address. The deputy saw Washington coming out the back door covered in sweat.

Washington was taken into custody after he admitted to driving and running from the vehicle. A check through DMV revealed Washington's driver's license was suspended and it was his third offense. Washington was transported to the detention center.