Sumter Crime Reports: Fire department finds marijuana during call; woman steals man's car

Incident reports from Jan. 28 to Feb. 5 were provided by the Sumter Police Department and the Sumter County Sheriff's Office.

JAN. 28

Officers responded to Poplar Square Apartments on Miller Road in reference to a burglary.

The property maintenance supervisor told officers that sometime about 2 a.m. an unknown suspect broke into the apartment laundry room.

Video surveillance showed the suspect wearing a gray hoodie, black jacket and dark jeans. The unknown suspect pried the wooden door open and attempted to break into the coin slots of two washers and one dryer.

The suspect then fled in an unknown direction.

JAN. 29

Officers assisted the Sumter Fire Department after marijuana was found during a residential fire inspection.

Around 10:40 a.m., a large cloud of black smoke was witnessed coming from an apartment on Miller Road and called in to the Sumter County Fire Department.

Law enforcement was unable to make contact with residents of the apartment, and the fire department had to force entry into the residence.

A short while later, the resident, Kayla Stephens, 23, arrived on scene, stating she left a while ago and that she was the only resident with a key to the apartment.

While the fire department investigated the apartment, firefighters found a small and large quantity of marijuana in plastic bags.

Officers seized the marijuana, and Stephens was issued a courtesy summons for simple possession of marijuana.

One Sumter man was arrested after giving false information to law enforcement.

While patrolling down Andrea Drive at about 11:15 a.m., officers observed an individual matching the description of Michael Lucas, who had several active warrants with the Sumter Police Department, standing in front of a residence.

The individual noticed officers were observing him and walked to the rear of the property.

Officers attempted to make contact with him in the back yard, but he walked back to the front yard, where he was eventually confronted.

When asked for his identification card, he stated he did not have one. He gave a verbal ID, stating his name was Alvin Daquan Reames.

The subject was detained, and after several opportunities to give his true identity, a state ID was located in his rear pocket for Edward Williams III, 29, of Milton Road.

After running Williams' information through the system, it was discovered he had two outstanding warrants with Sumter County.

Williams was charged with giving false information to law enforcement and was transferred to Sumter County Sheriff's Office Detention Center.

While on scene, officers recovered an abandoned firearm under the front of a Jeep. The firearm was not reported stolen, and officers placed it into evidence for processing.

JAN. 30

Teachers reported child abuse after two students said their father struck them.

At about 10 a.m., officers arrived at Crosswell Elementary School, where teachers were told by two student siblings that their 33-year-old father abused them at his residence on Colonial Drive.

Officers made contact with the father, who said he never harmed his children, nor has he seen them since October 2019.

Officers made contact with the children's mother, who said she was unaware of any abuse between the father and children.

The father and mother had a court date on Jan. 31 for visitation rights.

A Department of Social Services worker arrived on scene. The case is pending further investigation.

Two Sumter men were arrested for separate charges during a traffic stop on Alice Drive.

Mitchell Seruya, 49, of Sam Smith Street, was charged with possession of cocaine, violation of S.C. Gun Law and driving under suspension.

At about 4:45 p.m., deputies initiated a traffic stop for a white Toyota Tundra belonging to Seruya, knowing his license was suspended from a prior incident.

During the traffic stop, Seruya stepped out of the vehicle and was asked to step to the front of the deputy's vehicle.

A passenger, who was identified as John Ashely Henderson, 49, of Wedgefield Court, and Seruya were detained as deputies searched the vehicle.

Deputies asked Seruya if there were any weapons in the vehicle because of what appeared to be a firearm in the passenger door, and Seruya stated there was a pellet gun. However, there was a hand gun under the steering wheel, which was attached to a magnet under the steering wheel.

During this time, an outstanding family court warrant was confirmed for Henderson, and he was placed under arrest. Seruya was also arrested for driving under suspension and violation of S.C. Gun Law, as he was prohibited from possessing a firearm.

Deputies then conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle, before which Seruya said there were no other illegal items in the vehicle. However, deputies located a gram of cocaine in the overhead console of the vehicle, which Seruya claimed was his.

Seruya and Henderson were both transported to Sumter County Sheriff's Office Detention Center.

JAN. 31

A Dalzell man was arrested for reckless driving after driving under the influence and failing to stop for a blue light.

As a deputy was leaving the Sumter County Sheriff's Office on North Main Street, a white vehicle passed the sheriff's office driveway, the passenger side tires leaving the roadway, at about 9 a.m.

The deputy witnessed the vehicle almost stop in the roadway near Young's Market on North Main Street and speed up. The vehicle then changed lanes three times in a short distance, almost striking other vehicles. The driver then made a wide right turn onto North Pike, almost striking a vehicle in an oncoming lane.

The deputy attempted to call for backup as the vehicle didn't have a camera or any kind of recording equipment. The vehicle's speed then became "erratic," and the driver failed to maintain his lane of travel, according to the incident report.

As the vehicle approached Dillon Park, it turned into oncoming traffic, almost striking a white SUV head on.

The deputy could not wait for other units due to safety issues and activated blue lights at the entrance of Dillon Park. The vehicle failed to stop but eventually pulled to the right shoulder after passing the Wise Drive overpass.

The driver, Rodrel Anthony Moore, 44, of Dalzell, was the only occupant of the vehicle.

As the deputy approached the vehicle, Moore poured out his drink and said he was pouring out pee. The deputy asked if that was why he was driving in a reckless manner, and he said, "Yep." The deputy could smell a strong odor of alcohol coming from within the vehicle and on Moore.

Moore was asked to exit the vehicle as another deputy arrived on scene with recording equipment.

Deputies conducted a probable cause search and found the cup Moore poured the liquid out of, which smelled of liquor, in the center console of the vehicle. They also found an open bottle of Paul Masson Brandy hidden between the seat and the center console, as well as two open Bud Light beer cans with beer still in them.

Because of lack of recording equipment with the new driving under the influence law, Moore was charged for reckless driving.

FEB. 1

Two suspects were taken into custody and charged with grand larceny after attempting to steal a Servpro of Sumter box truck.

Jason Henry Clemmons, 39, of Gaston, and April Elizabeth Sumrall, 34, of Elbow Circle, were both charged with grand larceny. Clemmons was also charged with failure to stop for a blue light and driving under suspension.

Just before 6 p.m., a 55-year-old man was alerted that one of his business vehicles was activated at Servpro of Sumter on Myrtle Beach Highway and called law enforcement.

Deputies witnessed the bright green truck with the Servpro logo heading down U.S. 521 and followed it to Guignard Drive. The vehicle then made a left onto U.S. 15. Deputies activated a blue light on Pack Road, and the vehicle did not stop.

Eventually, the vehicle stopped, and Clemmons and Sumrall were arrested.

Deputies went to Servpro of Sumter for further investigation. Nothing else was reported stolen or missing, but it appeard the stolen vehicle was driven through one of the gates, destroying it.

FEB. 3

A Sumter man's vehicle was stolen by an unknown woman he picked up on Feb. 2.

At about 2 p.m., officers responded to the Downtown Motor Inn, where a man said an unknown woman he picked up the previous day stole his vehicle.

The man said he picked up a woman, who went by the name May, from Red and White Street on Feb. 2 in his gray 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt. She was short, black and wore blue leggings and a wig.

The man said he allowed May to drive his vehicle, and she took him to multiple places he couldn't recall.

The two later went to Downtown Motor Inn, and while he used the restroom, May took his keys and fled the inn around 7:30 p.m. The man thought May would return, but she never did.

The woman's full name, address, date of birth and contact information is unknown.

FEB. 5

A Sumter man was arrested for driving under suspension on South Pike Street.

At about 1:30 a.m., deputies conducted a driver's safety checkpoint on Zerrick Kamal Morris, 26, of West Brewington Road.

When asked for his driver's license, Morris stated that he did not have one.

After running Morris' information through dispatch and learning his license was suspended, third offense, deputies arrested and transported Morris to the Sumter County Sheriff's Office Detention Center.