Explore

North Charleston Police Arrest Man for DUI and Hit-and-Run

North Charleston Police Arrest Man for DUI and Hit-and-Run

The North Charleston Police Department has arrested Erimateo Ramirez Mendez, 31, on charges of driving under the influence (first offense), leaving the scene of a collision with an attended vehicle, and failure to stop for blue lights. The incident occurred around 3:40 p.m. at the Walmart in the 7400 block of Rivers Avenue. Officers responded to a report of a vehicle collision and found Mendez, who was involved in the crash. An officer observed Mendez rear-end a pickup truck and then attempt to leave the scene, hitting a curb in the process. Despite being followed by a police vehicle with activated blue lights, Mendez continued driving before being stopped and taken into custody. Police noted a strong odor of alcohol from Mendez, and he subsequently agreed to perform field sobriety tests. Based on these observations, officers determined there was probable cause to believe he was impaired and driving under the influence. Mendez was booked into the Al Cannon Detention Center, where he provided a breath test ...

Four Individuals Charged in Fatal North Charleston Apartment Shooting

Four Individuals Charged in Fatal North Charleston Apartment Shooting

Four individuals have been charged in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred on July 27 at the Retreat at Palm Pointe Apartments in North Charleston, South Carolina. North Charleston Police Department officers responded to reports of a shooting shortly after 6 p.m. at 2561 Fassitt Road. Upon arrival, officers found a man with gunshot wounds who later died at a local hospital. The police were already in the area investigating a vehicle linked to an incident in Dorchester County. Following an investigation, detectives identified and apprehended four suspects. Sunte Sturdivant, 31, and Timothy Singletary, 22, were arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service and face charges of murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, first-degree burglary, kidnapping, and attempted armed robbery. Singletary was apprehended in Richland County and is awaiting transport to Charleston County. Ty’Ron Keller, 32, is charged with accessory after the fact of murder, while Nyah Marshall, 22, is charged with accessory b...

Charleston Man Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Fatal Boating Crash

Charleston Man Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Fatal Boating Crash

A Charleston County judge has sentenced Nicholas Francesco Zuccala Jr. to three years in prison for a fatal boating crash that occurred on the Cooper River in October 2022. Zuccala pleaded guilty to reckless homicide by operation of a boat, just days before his case was scheduled to go to trial. The incident involved a collision between a recreational boat, operated by Zuccala, and the dredge vessel Savannah, near a waterfront concert. The crash resulted in multiple people being ejected into the water, and 27-year-old Macy Sweatman sustained severe head injuries, leading to her death on November 7, 2022. Investigators determined that Zuccala admitted to drinking alcohol and using cocaine before the crash, and his blood-alcohol level was estimated to be above South Carolina's legal limit. He was also not wearing a required kill switch at the time of the collision.

Midlands Mother Arrested After 6-Year-Old Found with Loaded AR Pistol on School Bus

Midlands Mother Arrested After 6-Year-Old Found with Loaded AR Pistol on School Bus

A Midlands mother has been arrested in Columbia, South Carolina, after her 6-year-old child was found with a loaded AR pistol on a school bus. The incident occurred on Tuesday morning, prompting a call to the school resource officer for JP Thomas Elementary School around 7:30 a.m. The firearm, an AR pistol loaded with .556 rounds, was safely confiscated from the child by officials from the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. The child's mother, Destar Hall, 35, was subsequently called to the school. Investigations revealed that the gun was not properly secured at their home, which allowed the child to access it. As a result, Hall was arrested and charged with unlawful conduct towards a child. She is currently being held at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, awaiting a bond hearing.

Mesa Woman Charged with Child Abuse After Toddler Found Alone in Hot Garage with Drugs in System

Mesa Woman Charged with Child Abuse After Toddler Found Alone in Hot Garage with Drugs in System

A Mesa mother, Amy Shellhammer, 32, is facing child abuse charges after her 2-year-old son was found alone in a hot garage and later tested positive for fentanyl, methamphetamine, and THC. The incident occurred during a First Alert Weather Day with extreme heat in Mesa, where temperatures reached 109 degrees. According to court documents, Shellhammer texted a neighbor on July 29, stating she was leaving and her child was in the garage, asleep. The neighbor, concerned about the lack of air conditioning and extreme heat in the garage, found the toddler and had difficulty waking him. The Arizona Department of Child Safety took custody of the child on August 1. During an interview with DCS officials, Shellhammer reportedly admitted to smoking fentanyl, meth, and marijuana over 10 times a day inside her home with her child present, acknowledging his exposure. Detectives also discovered an active protection order from Colorado, prohibiting Shellhammer from being within 100 yards of her son due to a prior inciden...

Man Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Fatal 2022 Charleston Boating Accident

Man Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Fatal 2022 Charleston Boating Accident

Nicholas Francesco Zuccala Jr. has been sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to reckless homicide by operation of a boat. The charge stems from a fatal boating accident on October 8, 2022, in Charleston, South Carolina. Officers from the North Charleston Police Department Marine Unit responded to a distress call near the Riverfront Revival Concert on the Cooper River, where a vessel had struck a dredge vessel named 'Savannah.' The collision ejected multiple people into the water. Macy Sweatman, a victim found 75 yards from the scene, suffered head trauma and died a month later from her injuries. Zuccala admitted to operating the boat and consuming alcohol earlier in the day, as well as using cocaine hours before the incident. His blood alcohol content was 0.049 more than four hours after the collision, with the State intending to introduce evidence suggesting it was between 0.10 and 0.11 at the time of impact, exceeding the state's legal limit of 0.08. Additionally, Zuccala was not wear...

Two North Carolina Men Charged in South Carolina Dogfighting Operation, 40 Dogs Rescued

Two North Carolina Men Charged in South Carolina Dogfighting Operation, 40 Dogs Rescued

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) has announced charges against two North Carolina men, Dennis Ray Williams, 69, and Samuel Garen Mobley, 49, for allegedly operating a dogfighting ring out of a residence in Blacksburg, South Carolina. The charges, filed on Thursday, include two counts of Criminal Conspiracy, Ill Treatment of Animals, and Animal Fighting or Baiting. The investigation began with an anonymous tip regarding fighting dogs being kept at a property on 99 Island Road in Blacksburg, owned by Williams. During a search of the property, agents discovered 40 dogs. Evidence found at the scene, including a piece of mail and dog medicine with Mobley’s name, linked him to the operation. A veterinarian examined the rescued dogs, confirming that 38 of them exhibited scarring consistent with organized dogfighting. Authorities also noted the use of ATVs and UTVs to transport the dogs from the property. Both Williams and Mobley have been booked into the Cherokee County Detention Center and rema...

Flock Safety Implements New Policies to Address ALPR Data Privacy and Misuse Concerns

Flock Safety Implements New Policies to Address ALPR Data Privacy and Misuse Concerns

Flock Safety, a prominent provider of automated license plate reader (ALPR) technology, has announced several new policies aimed at addressing growing concerns regarding data privacy and potential misuse by law enforcement agencies. These updates include a change to the default data retention period from 30 days to seven days, a new 'Evidence Mode' feature allowing investigators to retain specific ALPR data for active investigations beyond the standard retention period, and mandatory implementation of its 'Audit Assistance' feature for all law enforcement customers by the end of 2026. Additionally, case codes will be required for all law enforcement searches by year-end, and the company is encouraging customers to publish Transparency Portals. These changes come in response to increased scrutiny and documented instances of ALPR misuse, including officers tracking romantic partners or exes, as highlighted by investigations and cases in South Carolina. Local agencies in the Tri-County area of South Carolina ...

South Carolina Legislative Session Ends Without Passage of THC Product Restrictions and DUI Law Enhancements

South Carolina Legislative Session Ends Without Passage of THC Product Restrictions and DUI Law Enhancements

The South Carolina legislative session concluded without the revival of two significant bills: one aimed at restricting THC-infused products and another designed to strengthen the state's DUI laws. Legislators departed the Statehouse last week with no plans to reconvene until the next legislative session in January, effectively killing compromises on both issues that had been in legislative limbo for nearly two months. Both bills required final approval from each chamber to proceed to the governor's desk. However, compromises reached by House-Senate panels failed to secure approval from the full chambers during a brief return in June. The proposal to strengthen DUI laws fell short of the necessary supermajority vote in the Senate, partly due to concerns surrounding the THC bill. Concurrently, the House rejected the compromise limiting sales of intoxicating hemp-derived THC products. Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey indicated that the debates on these two bills were intertwined, leading to both failing t...

Charleston Boater Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Fatal 2022 Crash

Charleston Boater Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Fatal 2022 Crash

A Charleston County judge has sentenced Nicholas Francesco Zuccala Jr. to three years in prison for a fatal boating crash that occurred on the Cooper River in October 2022. Zuccala pleaded guilty to reckless homicide by operation of a boat, avoiding a jury trial. The collision involved a recreational boat and the dredge vessel Savannah near a waterfront concert, resulting in the death of 27-year-old Macy Sweatman. Investigators from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources determined that Zuccala was operating the vessel, admitted to drinking alcohol earlier in the day, and using cocaine in the hours leading up to the crash. Forensic analysis suggested his blood-alcohol level at the time of the incident would have been between 0.10% and 0.11%, exceeding South Carolina's legal limit of 0.08%. Additionally, Zuccala was not wearing a required kill switch, a device designed to automatically shut off the engine if the operator is ejected. GPS data from the boat indicated it was traveling between 36 an...

Myrtle Beach Area Schools Join Region 6-AAAAA Following SCHSL Realignment

Myrtle Beach Area Schools Join Region 6-AAAAA Following SCHSL Realignment

Myrtle Beach Area Schools Join Region 6-AAAAA Following SCHSL Realignment

First Responders Search for Boater After Fall Near Charleston Dock

First Responders Search for Boater After Fall Near Charleston Dock

First responder crews in Charleston, South Carolina, initiated a search operation late Sunday night for an individual who reportedly fell off a boat near a dock. Emergency personnel were dispatched to Lockwood Drive just before 8 p.m. following reports of the incident. The search involved multiple agencies, including the Charleston, North Charleston, and Mt. Pleasant Fire Departments, Charleston Police Department, Charleston County EMS, Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, US Coast Guard, and Charleston County Rescue. Crews continued their search efforts past midnight before calling off the operation for the night. The search is scheduled to resume on Monday morning. Further details regarding the individual's identity or the circumstances surrounding the fall have not yet been released.