Update: West Columbia PD investigating attempted vehicle-jacking

West Columbia, SC (Paul Kirby) – Detectives with the West Columbia Police Department were investigating an attempted vehicle-jacking Saturday morning. Officers from the department were summonsed to the Lowe’s on Augusta Road near I-26 sometime around 5:00 a.m. regarding the incident.

The man was not successful in getting away with the vehicle and fled on foot. Handlers and K-9s from the Cayce Department of Public Safety responded to assist. There was a preliminary description of the suspect given to officers over the radio. It detailed a man dressed in blue jeans, a gray hoodie, and wearing a red bandanna across his face. The description said that he might be of Hispanic race, but that was not certain.

At one point, the K-9 team was tracking along Augusta Road back toward the main part of the city and the Racetrac gas and Wal-Mart just east of I-26. Assistant Chief Scott Morrison, spokesman for the department, said later Saturday morning that they were unable to locate and detain the suspect. Their investigation was continuing.

If you know anything about this crime, please notify the West Columbia Police Department at 803-794-0721 ext. 221 or Crimestoppers at 1-888-Crime SC.

As stated earlier, this is in its very early stages. We are reaching out to the spokesman for the West Columbia Police Department and will update as more information becomes available.