Lexington, SC 01/16/2023 (Paul Kirby) – Officers with the Lexington Police Department were assisted by deputies and K-9s from the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department and personnel from the SC Highway Patrol in capturing a validated gang member who attempted to evade them over the weekend. The also used their high-tech drone in this incident which occurred on Roberts Street within the town.
According to a spokesperson for the Lexington PD, an officer from their department was on patrol when he noticed a vehicle that had a headlight out and an expired license plate Saturday. When the patrol officer initiated a traffic stop of this vehicle, instead of yielding to the officer and pulling over when the officer activated his cruiser’s warning devices, the driver failed to stop for the blue lights and instead sped away.
According to the Lexington Police, the basic vehicle violations their officer noted with the small SUV style vehicle did not meet their departmental policy regarding pursuits. The officer radioed in the vehicle’s description and direction of travel but did not allow himself to be drawn into a pursuit. Instead, the officer continued to travel along Roberts Street in case the driver of the fleeing vehicle had gotten out of sight, abandoned the SUV, and fled on foot. Within a short distance, the LPD officer drove up on the SUV that was now overturned in the street. The officer saw the driver climb out of the crashed vehicle and run into the adjacent woods.
In a matter of moments, other law enforcement officers began arriving at the scene of the collision. They were quickly directed to set up a perimeter around the area in an attempt to contain the fugitive in the same general vicinity of the crash.
A Lexington County Sheriff's Department K-9 team arrived on scene and began a track of the suspect. Meanwhile, officers from Lexington PD deployed their drone which is equipped with night vision. It can also detect infrared signatures that allows its operator to see differences in the temperature of various objects it’s flying over. This is useful when a suspect who attempts to elude officers is hiding, lying, standing, or running on cool ground or against a backdrop of a different temperature than the fugitive. This drone has been successfully deployed before since its acquisition. It is credited with the apprehension of several suspects involved in other crimes in Lexington.
Troopers with the SC Highway Patrol and additional Lexington County Sheriff’s Deputies continued to arrive on scene. They were instrumental in maintaining the perimeter that kept the fugitive in the immediate area while the search continued. The drone’s operator found the suspect hiding several times, but by the time officers could approach him, he would jump up and run deeper into the woods.
After several hours, the drone’s operator once again found the fugitive lying in a wooded area near the road. This time, when officers approached, police were able to take the him into custody. At the request of LPD, the suspect was transported to a local hospital by EMS where injuries he sustained during the collision and exposure to the cold were checked and treated. Only after receiving clearance from a doctor was the suspect transported to detention for holding.
According to LPD, the subject is a juvenile who is 17 years old. He is a validated gang member and does not have a driver's license. Police later confirmed that the vehicle he was driving was stolen as well.
Although they have not released the suspect’s name because of his age, the Lexington Police Department has released a list of the charges the juvenile will face in Lexington County Family Court in the future. They include but may not be limited to:
Failure to Stop for Blue Lights
Leaving the Scene of a Collision
Reckless Driving
Possession of a Stolen Vehicle
Driving Without a License
Defective Headlight
After the operation was brought to a close, a spokesperson for the Lexington Police Department said, “We appreciate the patience of our community while roadways in the area were closed and the support and assistance from the Lexington County Sheriff's Department and the South Carolina Highway Patrol.”
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