ORANGEBURG, SC (WIS) - Inside a downtown Orangeburg home, a 21-year-old woman fears for her life. She grabs the phone and hides in a closet.

Caller: I'm going to need the police to come to 1130 College Avenue right now. They're robbing the house. Right now, please.
Dispatcher: Hold on one moment.
Caller: ...1130 College Avenue...
Dispatcher: You said 1130?

Lashonda Lane is quietly trying to tell the dispatcher where to go. She keeps quiet and listens.

"I was in the closet. Crying and praying -- hoping they didn't come in and find me, while I was in there calling police," Lane said.

Lane said she heard thumping and stomping noises during the ordeal. She hears as her roommates are being ordered to get down on the floor.

As she hides, she said she heard her two roommates get beat up by four men who've broken into the home.

The stakes start rising quickly.

"I peeked out the door. I opened the door just a little bit and I see their faces and see the arm holding the gun down," Lane said.

Lane reaches for the phone again.

Dispatcher: Hello?
Caller: Send the police.
Dispatcher: Ma'am, the police are coming. But what's the number you're calling from? Ma'am? Can I have that number?

Captain Mike Adams from the Orangeburg Public Safety Department praised Lane.

"This young lady certainly did everything right," Adams said.

Lane did everything she could to let police know she was in trouble.

When authorities show up, they find four men nearby -- one holding an X-Box and the other holding a large white safe.

"Certainly, not something you typically see something walking down the street with," Adams said.

One of the men ran off and got away. Police were able to arrest the other three -- an unnamed juvenile and 17-year-olds Tywan Miler and Michael Smith.

"We're thankful it had the outcome it did. But we both know it could've been a lot different," Adams said.

Lane is just thankful that everything worked out well for her and her roommates.

"So yeah, if I didn't have that phone. Don't know what they would've done to me really," Lane said.

Reported by Dan Tordjman

Posted by Jeremy Turnage

IRMO, SC (WIS) - Irmo police issued warrants Sunday against a man in connection with a shooting at the New Friarsgate subdivision in Irmo.

Police say Robert Earl Brewer turned himself in around 9am Monday morning.

According to a news release, Brewer arrived at a residence in the subdivision and began arguing with Brian William Lee. The argument turned physical when authorities say Brewer hit Lee with a candlestick and retrieved a 12-gauge shotgun from a bedroom. Officials say Brewer then fired the shotgun into the floor and Lee was struck in the leg. Authorities say Brewer then fled the scene.

The warrants charge Brewer with assault and battery with intent to kill, pointing and presenting a firearm, possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime and discharging a firearm within the town limits.

Bond for Brewer was set at $35,000 at a bond hearing held Monday afternoon.

Posted by Jeremy Turnage

ORANGEBURG COUNTY, SC (WIS) - Orangeburg County sheriff's deputies may still be investigating his death, but there's no doubt in Booker Yon's mind about what happened to Devangelist Johnson.

"He would not go in that pond himself. Someone threw that boy in that pond," Yon said.

Last Wednesday, Yon says Johnson knocked off work at the Piggly Wiggly on Russell Street around 2pm. Yon managed Johnson there for 10 years.

"We all here are sad. Our customers are sad because they all loved the man. He was a loving and warm person. To know him was to love him," Yon said.

Little did Yon know, Wednesday would be the last time he would see his friend alive. He says Johnson's mother picked him up that day and took him home. She told Yon that later on that day, someone her son knew picked him up from his house and took him to do some yard work.

"And that's the last the family ever seen him," Yon said.

The next morning, Johnson's family told sheriff's deputies he was missing. Then Sunday afternoon, investigators say a truck driver was passing over a creek on North Road and saw a body in the water. It was Johnson.

"I don't know why someone would even think of doing a crime like this," Yon said.

Investigators say a preliminary autopsy shows Johnson drowned and didn't show any signs of foul play, but at this point they're still not ruling it out. Yon definitely isn't.

"They will find ‘em. It may take a little while, but they will be caught," Yon said.

A spokesman with the Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office says investigators are still in the early stages of this investigation. Right now, they're waiting on the results of a toxicology report.

Reported by Trey Paul

Posted by Jeremy Turnage

It happened at the corner of Ashley Avenue and Line Street.

Investigators say someone shot a man in the face in front of the Avenue Quick Stop around One Friday morning.  That man was taken to the hospital in critical condition.

We're also told he underwent surgery early Friday morning as well but his condition is unknown, and his name has not been released.

Charleston Police have no suspects in the shooting, if you have any information about this crime, call Crime Stoppers at 554-1111.

A man who led authorities on a high-speed chase through a residential area Tuesday morning was arrested after he crashed his car into another vehicle.

Darryl Orlando Houston, 42, of 223 Conley St. was taken into custody about 11:33 a.m. after his 1992 Honda Accord struck a Nissan Altima near the intersection of Caulder Avenue and West Park Drive. Authorities had not determined what charges to file against Houston Tuesday evening.

Maj. Dan Johnson with the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office said speeds during the chase reached about 50 mph, and the pursuit started at 11:28 a.m. Johnson said deputies were attempting to serve an outstanding bench warrant for driving under suspension, third or subsequent offense, when Houston attempted to flee.

"They knew who he was," Johnson said. "They had the bench warrant in hand."

Johnson said deputies pursued Houston because they thought he might be involved in other crimes.

"The bench warrant was a tool to bring him in," Johnson said.

Houston has been jailed six times since November for various periods of time. He has previously been arrested by the South Carolina Highway Patrol, Spartanburg Public Safety Department and the sheriff's office.

A female passenger in Houston's car was placed into investigative detention, but Johnson said he is "not aware of any charges against her."

Johnson said no serious injuries were reported from the wreck, although an occupant of the Altima received a bump on the head.

SUMTER COUNTY, SC (WIS) - Sumter County authorities say the body of a man was found by his daughter on Monday.

According to a news release, on Monday at approximately 4:30pm, the body of 67-year-old Charles Way was discovered in his residence on Grace Lane.

Authorities say Way appears to have been the victim of a homicide and to have died from a single gunshot wound.

His body was found near the back door.

Neighbors say they don't know why anyone would want to hurt the retired military man, calling him a good neighbor who would always lend a hand.

Sumter Sheriff Anthony Dennis says it appears that this may have been an attempted burglary, but he says nothing was taken.

"We believe there was an attempt to enter the home and the burglar was surprised by the victim," Dennis said.

The Sumter County Sheriff's Office is investigating. They say they are following several leads and are seeking assistance from anyone who may have any information regarding the case.

"For someone that's law abiding and who's given their life to the military.. For someone to take his life is a tragedy. We will investigate," Dennis said.

Dennis says it won't be easy. They have no witnesses or suspects.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the sheriff's office at 436-2700 or Crimestoppers at 436-2718.

Reported by Taylor Kearns

Posted by Bryce Mursch