Asst. Solicitor Moak resigns amid allegations

Ron Moak, of Camden, an assistant solicitor with the 5th Circuit Solicitor's Office in Kershaw County, resigned Dec. 10 following several allegations. Solicitor Dan Johnson, through his director of communications, Nicole Holland, confirmed Moak's resignation.

One arrested, two sought in armed robbery

Kershaw County Sheriff's Office (KCSO) investigators arrested one man and are seeking two others in the armed robbery of an individual on Nov. 25.

Crime Report - Dec. 19, 2012

The Kershaw County Sheriff's Office (KCSO) is looking for a suspect after he assaulted and robbed a man in Kershaw County.

CPD officers at CES after Conn. shooting

Several Camden Police Department (CPD) officers appeared at Camden Elementary School (CES) Friday following news out of Newtown, Conn., of what is being considered the second-worst school-related shooting in American history.

Crime Report - Dec. 12, 2012

A string of vehicle break-ins Friday and Saturday have left many Camden residents without Christmas gifts, personal documents and GPS units.

KCSO’s Justin Dill earns Latham Deputy Sheriff of the Year Award

Kershaw County Sheriff's Office (KCSO) Investigator Justin Dill is the 2012 winner of the W. Roger Latham Deputy of the Year Award. Local businessman Joe Upchurch announced Dill's selection Saturday during a Christmas luncheon following the annual Kershaw County Christmas Parade in downtown Camden.

Remembering Michael

Michael Joseph Smith was more than a young adult killed in a "gang-related" shooting five years ago on Dec. 7, 2007. He was a son and a brother. As the Chronicle-Independent concluded its three-part series "Michael's Legacy, 2007-2012" Friday, Michael's mother, Jody Hancock, said she wanted to make sure those impacted by Michael's death and the community's response to it didn't forget Michael himself. The ...

Car crash kills one

According to S.C. Highway Patrol Senior Trooper Bridget Wyant, a single vehicle, single occupant fatality occurred on Threatt Road at 12:55 a.m. Sunday near Kershaw. Kershaw County Coroner Johnny Fellers identified the driver as Billy Ray Gainey, age 53.

Grant programs working, but will they last?

Michael Joseph Smith died exactly five years ago tonight, Dec. 7, 2007, in a gang-related shooting at the McDonald's near the U.S. 521/I-20 interchange. His death spurred a conversation about how Kershaw County would handle gang-affiliation and prevention. Since his death, many Kershaw County entities have come together to apply for and implement Safe Schools/Healthy Students (SS/HS), a five year, $6 million federally funded program. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: ...

CUE joins search for Gabbiee Swainson

CUE (Community United Effort) Center for Missing Persons, based in Wilmington, N.C., recently assisted in search efforts for missing Columbia teenager Gabrielle (Gabbiee) Swainson. Gabbiee disappeared in mid-August. Freddie Grant, 52, of Elgin is accused of kidnapping her and is also thought to be involved in the disappearance of his live-in girlfriend, Adriana Laster, 27. The Elgin Police Department estimated Laster has been missing since early September 2011. He is ...

Arrests sent message as teen’s death inspired community

Kershaw County Sheriff's Office Lt. Danny Templar said the night of Dec. 7, 2007, was "a jagged pill of reality." Michael Smith, 17, had been fatally wounded by a gunshot at the McDonald's/TigerShop near U.S. 521/I-20.

Crime Report - Dec. 5, 2012

An Elgin man living on Roberts Drive told Kershaw County Sheriff's Office (KCSO) deputies that he returned home after a month to find someone leaving out his backdoor.

EPD rounding up toys

Donations for new toys are currently being accepted for the 2012 Elgin Police Department's (EPD) Toy Round-Up. The effort, an EPD tradition for six years, is being spearheaded by Sgt. Renee Wilson.

Michael's Legacy, 2007-2012, Part I of III

Michael Joshua Smith -- described as a Camden High School student on the brink of learning what it meant to be a man -- died from a gunshot to the chest on Dec. 7, 2007, at the age of 17. This week, the Chronicle-Independent looks back at the events of five years ago and how his death brought about changes in Camden and Kershaw County. Information for this series is taken from C-I accounts ...

Crime Report - Nov. 28, 2012

A Camden woman claimed she was assaulted after leaving a Kershaw Highway, Westville, home after another woman noticed a bottle of liquor was missing from the home.

Five stores cited for selling beer to minor

The Kershaw County Sheriff's Office (KCSO) cited five county businesses -- two each in Camden and Elgin and one in Lugoff -- for selling beer to underage individuals during an undercover operation Monday.

Woman killed in moped vs. truck collision

Third suspect arrested in March hit and run case

The S.C. Highway Patrol (SCHP) arrested a third suspect in an Elgin hit-and-run case from earlier this year.

Crime Report - May 22, 2013

The Kershaw County Sheriff's Office (KCSO) charged two men and a woman, all of Camden, with drug possession after placing their home under surveillance for several months.

Second arrest in fatal accident

A second arrest was made in the case of a fatal hit-and-run in Elgin on March 1. 26-year-old Jesus Corona Cabal, of Columbia, was charged with accessory after the fact for helping the driver involved in the hit and run "destroy" the 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse that hit and killed Derk Lawrence Maricle of Lugoff, S.C. Highway Patrol Lance Cpl. Brent Kelly said.