Sumter County Sheriff's Office crime reports: Friday, May 10, 2019
HARASSMENT, FIRST DEGREE
Benjamin Eric Cadeza Yates, 17, of Timmerman Street, Sumter, was arrested May 1 and charged with harassment, first degree, according to Adrienne Sarvis, public information officer for Sumter County Sheriff's Office.
According to a warrant, Yates allegedly harassed and threatened to kill the male victim between March 1, 2018, and May 1, 2019, after being warned not to contact the victim. Yates allegedly punched the victim in the face on April 26, 2019, and posted a video of himself on social media holding a handgun. Investigators reported that the victim said he fears for his life because of the continued threats from Yates. A $6,500 surety bond for Yates was set by a magistrate judge on May 2.
FORGERY
Dedric Tramyne Slater, 30, of Roland Street, Bishopville, was arrested on May 3 and charged with forgery, no dollar amount involved, according to Sarvis.
A warrant states Slater allegedly signed his brother's name on bond documents while at Sumter County Sheriff's Office Detention Center on May 2.
NUMEROUS CHARGES
Bernard Leon Witherspoon, 26, of Cane Savannah Road, Wedgefield, was arrested and charged with failure to stop for a blue light, first offense; failure to dim lights; trafficking ice, crank or crack, at least 28 grams but less than 100 grams, second offense; possession of Schedule I and Schedule II narcotics, first offense; unlawful carrying of a pistol; and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.
According to the arresting deputy, Witherspoon led law enforcement on a 5-mile chase at about 1:50 a.m. May 7 after attempting to avoid a traffic stop on Broad Street near Copley Road.
The deputy observed the driver of a black Honda Accord fail to dim the high beams for vehicles traveling in the opposite direction and attempted to conduct a traffic stop.
Witherspoon refused to stop for the blue lights and siren and after a few miles turned onto Duffie Drive from Cane Savannah Road, pulled into a driveway and fled on foot toward a house. He was handcuffed and detained after a short chase.
After an open can of beer was seen in the center console, the deputy conducted a search of Witherspoon's vehicle.
The deputy found a white grocery bag containing $18,824 in cash, 342 grams of multi-colored pills (possibly methamphetamines) and 132 grams of off-white pills on the front passenger floorboard. Five Oxycodone pills were found in the driver door panel, and a .40-caliber handgun with rounds in the magazine was found on the back seat. A check through the National Crime Information Center revealed the suspect is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Witherspoon was taken to Sumter County Sheriff's Office Detention Center.
"A large amount of drugs was taken off the streets because this subject failed to follow a simple traffic rule," Sheriff Anthony Dennis said in a news release. "Just like with Operation Ice Storm earlier this year, some people who commit crimes will get caught when they least expect it."