34th session of the BCSO Citizen’s Police Academy starting in September

The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office will be hosting its 34th session of the Citizen’s Police Academy starting this September. The session runs one night a week for ten (10) weeks and is a great way to learn about your Sheriff’s Office.

We provide refreshments and promise that you will be entertained while coming to understand that what you see on television does not necessarily reflect reality. You will learn how the Sheriff’s Office utilizes your tax dollars and how you can better protect yourself. You will participate in hands on activities that put you as close to being a Deputy Sheriff as safely possible and also witness demonstrations that will show how well trained and dedicated the Sheriff’s Office is to your safety.

We provide two locations for your convenience:

NORTH OF THE BROAD
Location: Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, 2001 Duke Street, Beaufort, SC
Starts: September 2, 2014
Time: 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm

SOUTH OF THE BROAD
Location: TCL New River Campus, Rm 125, 100 Community College Dr., Bluffton, SC
Starts: September 4, 2014
Time: 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm

In order to attend you must be at least 18 years old, live or work in Beaufort County, and pass a criminal background check. And seating is limited, so apply soon.

Applications are located at the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office or can be downloaded from our website at www.bcso.net.

For questions or comments, please contact MSgt. Mike Jennings at (843) 255-3287 or mjennings@bcgov.net.

Sheriff’s Office Promotions

BEAUFORT, SC (March 3, 2014/11:00 AM) – The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office wishes to congratulate the following personnel in recognition of their achievement and dedication. Effective as of the Monday, March 3^rd, 2014 ceremony, the following members of the Sheriff’s Office staff have been promoted:

 

Glenn Zanelotti          Captain   

Teddy Binette             Lieutenant

Jason Covington        Lieutenant

 William Angelo          Master Sergeant

Andres Florencio        Master Sergeant

Melissa MacPhee        Staff Sergeant

Christopher Capps      Sergeant

Travis Hovest              Sergeant

John Klein                   Sergeant

Owen Lamb                Sergeant   

Dan Martin                 Sergeant

Joseph Michaud         Sergeant

Justin Trotter              Sergeant

Adam Zsamar             Sergeant        

LaKeshia Kearns         ESD 1

Krystal Johnson          Sheriff’s Tech III

Dominique Palmer      ESD 1

Vehicle Break-Ins

BLUFFTON, SC (February 26, 2014/11:00 AM) – The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a series of vehicle break-ins that have occurred throughout Bluffton over the last two weeks.

Numerous vehicles throughout several Bluffton subdivisions have been broken into. Some of the vehicles had been left unsecured and were entered without force; however, the majority of the victims’ vehicles have had windows smashed to make entry.

Within the county, reports have been taken from Westbury Park, Fern Lakes, Lake Linden, Lakes at Myrtle Park, Baywood, and Meadowbrook. Additionally, the Bluffton Police Department has fielded similar reports in Mill Creek, The Farm, Hidden Lakes, and Pinecrest. Investigators with both agencies are working together to identify any possible suspect(s).

The item most commonly being reported as stolen in these break-ins has been ladies’ purses. The Sheriff’s Office encourages residents to secure property by keeping vehicles locked, and by removing items of value before leaving vehicles unattended. 

Investigators are asking anyone with information to contact either Investigator Cpl. D. Seifert at 843-255-3414 or Crimestoppers.

MAKE THE CALL, STAY ANONYMOUS, EARN a REWARD: To report crime, citizens can call Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC (274-6372) or text the word TIPSC with a message to CRIMES (274637).

 

Medicine Cabinet Clean-Out

BEAUFORT, SC (February 26, 2014/12:00 PM) – The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office will be sponsoring a medication disposal event, in partnership with:

• Alcohol & Drug Abuse
• Solid Waste & Recycling
• Human Services Alliance
• Beaufort Jasper Water Sewer Authority
• South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control
• Local Fire Departments
• Beaufort Memorial Hospital     
• Life Fit Community Health
• Home Instead Senior Care
• United States Marine Corp Demand Reduction
• Bi-Lo and Naval Hospital Pharmacies
• Bluffton Police Department

The purpose of the Medicine Cabinet Clean-Out event is to reach out to the citizens of BeaufortCounty with expired and leftover medicines (including prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and herbal supplements) in their homes. Keeping unneeded products in the home can lead to unintentional poisonings, especially in young children and older adults. Also of concern, is that improper disposal of medication can lead to soil and water contamination. 

All individuals in Beaufort County homes are encouraged to gather old and/or unwanted medications and bring them to the collection sites, where they may be left for appropriate disposal.

Participants are asked to black out any identifying personal information from containers prior to bringing them for disposal. Following the conclusion of this event, the collected medications will be appropriately disposed of by Evidence Technicians with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office. Citizens are requested to NOT bring liquid medications, syringes, or medical waste to collection sites. 

This is an amnesty event aimed at removing these potentially dangerous medications from circulation. As such, no participant will be prosecuted for surrendering ANY medication during this event.

Events will be held from 9am to 3pm the following dates:

March 1, 2014 at Public Works-South (6 Benton Field, Bluffton)

April 26, 2014 at Hilton Head Island Fire/Rescue Station (40 Summit Dr, Hilton Head)

May 3, 2014 at Public Works-North (142 Shanklin Rd, Beaufort)

For additional information on this event, please contact Lt. Chris Sankowski at 843-255-3703.

Sheriff’s Office Warns of Phone Scam

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC (February 14, 2014/1:00 PM) – The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office is alerting residents of a phone scam that has recently resurfaced in our area.

The Sheriff’s Office has fielded several reports from citizens concerned over phone calls they have received from subject(s) identifying themselves as Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office deputies. In these calls, the subject reportedly attempts to solicit money from the victims, threatening legal action if the victims refuse to comply.

Victims have reported similar encounters: the caller informs them that they owe a fine for failure to appear for jury duty. The victim is told they must pay a fine, or risk being arrested. The fine amounts vary, as do the names of the deputy the caller claims to be. The victim is usually instructed to purchase a Green Dot card from Wal-Mart, loaded with the amount of the “fine.” The victim is then asked to provide the Green Dot card number, which will satisfy the fine’s payment.

This type of scam has been reported in recent months in jurisdictions throughout the country. The Federal Bureau of Investigations released warnings about this type of scam dating back as early as 2005. While the details may differ as the scam runs from area to area, the end result is the same: a victim is deceived into giving valuable and potentially harmful information to an unknown source.

The callers perpetrating these types of scams can be very persistent and intimidating. They may use legal/law enforcement jargon in combination with easily obtainable personal information about a victim to coerce them into believing they are speaking with an actual law enforcement officer. It is believed that these types of calls originate outside the local jurisdictions in which they occur, and quite possibly outside the country.

While it is common for deputies to make contact with citizens by phone for a number of reasons, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office does not solicit any financial information via phone. Satisfaction of any fines, debts, warrants, or other civil process will never require a citizen to release personal financial data by phone, e-mail or any other unsecured method of communication.

Anyone receiving a call of this nature is encouraged refrain from completing any transaction and to contact the Sheriff’s Office immediately. If you have concerns that you may have an outstanding legal issue requiring some type of payment, you may verify this by contacting the appropriate office of the Beaufort County Courthouse. For more information about this scam, as well as protecting yourself from other forms of fraud, visit the FBI’s website: http://www.fbi.gov/scams-safety

MAKE THE CALL, STAY ANONYMOUS, EARN a REWARD: To report crime, citizens can call Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC (274-6372) or text the word TIPSC with a message to CRIMES (274637).

 

Winter Weather Advisory

BEAUFORT, SC (February 12, 2014/3:00 PM) – The National Weather Service has placed Beaufort County under an Ice Storm Warning, which will remain in effect overnight through 10 am tomorrow morning.

The freezing conditions which have impacted inland areas of the Lowcountry throughout the day are expected to extend to the coast as the Freeze Line continues to shift. Freezing temperatures and heavy rains will persist through the night, creating the potential for hazardous ice accumulations.

Residents should prepare for potential power outages, deteriorating weather conditions and extremely dangerous highway conditions.  Bridges and overpasses will freeze first, making travel over them dangerous if not impossible. Citizens are asked to avoid any unnecessary travel for the duration of the storm. Those who must travel should do so at reduced speeds, using caution on bridges as well as low-lying areas where water may accumulate.

Maximum freezing conditions are expected to affect Beaufort County as the Freeze Line reaches the coast around 4-5 am tomorrow morning. As such, residents are encouraged to delay their morning commute if possible, to allow for clearer roadways. Beaufort County government offices and schools will be operating on a 2-hour delay Thursday.

The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Management Division, in coordination with the National Weather Service, the SC Department of Transportation and South Carolina Emergency Management continue to closely monitor the situation, and will be releasing announcements as necessary to keep the public informed.

MAKE THE CALL, STAY ANONYMOUS, EARN a REWARD: To report crime, citizens can call Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC (274-6372) or text the word TIPSC with a message to CRIMES (274637).

 

Sheriff’s Office Investigating Armed Robbery

BEAUFORT, SC (February 10, 2014/11:00 AM) – The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an armed robbery that occurred early Saturday morning on a Beaufort roadway.

Sheriff’s deputies responded to the area of Salt Creek Drive West just before 2:30 am Saturday morning in reference to a reported armed robbery. Upon arrival, they met with a 22-year old male who advised that he was robbed by a group of unknown black males.

The victim advised that he was walking to his girlfriend’s house on Salt Creek Drive West at approximately 1:40 am when he saw two black males wearing hooded sweatshirts walking towards him. He then saw headlights from a vehicle approaching him from behind. When the vehicle stopped, four additional black males got out. All six suspects, each carrying what were described as “assault rifle-style weapons” then approached the victim, and began rummaging through his pockets.

After taking the victim’s money and cell phone, all six suspects got back into the vehicle, described as a dark colored Chevy Tahoe, and left the area. The victim was unharmed and continued on to his girlfriend’s house where he later called to report the incident.

A search of the area yielded no contact with any witnesses or evidence. The victim was unable to provide any further description of his attackers.

The Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information to contact either Investigator Sgt. J. Gobel at 843-255-3421 or Crimestoppers.

MAKE THE CALL, STAY ANONYMOUS, EARN a REWARD: To report crime, citizens can call Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC (274-6372) or text the word TIPSC with a message to CRIMES (274637).

Suspect Arrested on Drug Charges

Danardis Mitchell

HILTON HEAD ISLAND,  SC (February 7, 2014/11:00 AM) – A Hilton Head Island man was arrested last night on multiple drug charges as the result of a search warrant executed at his home.

Thirty-four year old Danardis Quaviel Mitchell was arrested on charges of Trafficking Cocaine and Simple Possession of Marijuana after members of the Sheriff’s Office Drug Investigations Section served a search warrant at his Old Woodlands home.

A long-term investigation into alleged drug activity occurring at the home at 19 Marblehead Rd, including a controlled drug purchase at the home, led investigators to obtain a search warrant for the residence. When the search warrant was executed at 7:30 pm last night, investigators located and seized approximately 13 g of cocaine, approximately 10 g of marijuana, $1,100 in cash, and various rounds of ammunition. Mitchell was at the home at the time and was subsequently placed under arrest.

Additional charges and arrests are pending as the investigation continues.

MAKE THE CALL, STAY ANONYMOUS, EARN a REWARD: To report crime, citizens can call Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC (274-6372) or text the word TIPSC with a message to CRIMES (274637).

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LOCAL EMERGENCY PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING SCHEDULED

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC (February 7, 2014/11:00 AM) – A meeting of the Local Emergency Planning Committee is scheduled for Wednesday, February 12, 2014 at 2:00 pm. It will be held in the Conference Room of the Emergency Management Division, second floor of the Law Enforcement Center at 2001 Duke Street, Beaufort, S.C.

For questions concerning this meeting, please call (843) 255-4000.

MAKE THE CALL, STAY ANONYMOUS, EARN a REWARD: To report crime, citizens can call Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC (274-6372) or text the word TIPSC with a message to CRIMES (274637).

 

Island Traffic Affected by Marathon

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC (February 7, 2014/12:00 PM) – Nearly 1,400 runners and walkers are slated to participate in the upcoming Hilton Head Island Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K. The event will start at 8:00 am at Jarvis Creek Park on Saturday, February 8th, 2014.

Traffic at Jarvis Creek Park, Nature’s Way, Pembroke Rd, the Cross Island Pkwy, Arrow Rd, Marshland Rd, Spanish Wells Rd and Point Comfort Rd will all be minimally affected throughout the event from 8 am – 2 pm. The Cross Island Parkway and all toll booths will remain open; however, the west bound lane of the Cross Island Parkway will be reduced to one lane starting at 7 am through the duration of the races.

No road closures are anticipated, however, motorists are asked to exercise caution and be mindful as racers cross roadways. Deputies and race staff will be stationed at multiple points along the course to ensure the safety of all those participating in and/or watching the event.

MAKE THE CALL, STAY ANONYMOUS, EARN a REWARD: To report crime, citizens can call Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC (274-6372) or text the word TIPSC with a message to CRIMES (274637).