An Elgin Police Department (EPD) officer arrested Terry James Altman, 39, of Sessions Road, Elgin, on several charges after the officer saw him and a woman riding an ATV on the roadway at Sessions Road and Church Street.

According to the officer’s report, Altman drove up to a stop sign, but went on through the intersection in order to continue on Church Street. The officer activated his blue lights and even sounded his air horn several times, but Altman would not pull over despite both he and the woman looking over their shoulders at the officer. At one point, they pulled into the parking lot at Mid Carolina Credit Union, but then accelerated and drove over the curb into a grassy area behind a nearby business. It was not until a little further on that the officer was able to drive far enough in front of the ATV in order to stop Altman from further travel.

When the officer patted Altman down, they felt a plastic bag with something “squishy” inside in his right front pants pocket. Altman reportedly said it “might” be marijuana. The officer pulled out the bag, which did have marijuana inside, along with two other small plastic bags with meth inside.

At this point, the officer arrested Altman for marijuana possession, and possession with intent to distribute meth. Two Kershaw County deputies arrived on the scene to assist. On the way to the Kershaw County Detention Center, Altman claimed his back was hurting and needed EMS. The transporting deputy returned to Elgin Town Hall where EMS responded. EMS told the reporting officer Altman did not need treatment, but Altman insisted he needed to go to the hospital.

After being refused, Altman stuck his leg out of the patrol car and refused to put it back inside. After refusing several times to put his leg back in the car, deputies tried to get force his leg back inside, but he resisted and was told he would be charged with resisting arrest. Deputies finally managed to get Altman’s leg back inside the patrol car, but he then blocked the door from being closed with his foot. After several warnings, he moved his foot and he was able to be transported to the jail.

There, Altman again claimed his back was hurting and needed to go to the hospital. At this point, a deputy took him to KershawHealth, only to release him a few minutes later. The Elgin officer transported Altman back to jail where deputies further charged him with resisting arrest.

The EPD also reported the following recent incidents:

An officer suffered a minor injury while attempting to take a mental patient and “known drug user” into custody near Blaney Elementary School on the morning of June 23. The subject managed to punch the officer in the chin, causing a cut to the officer’s chin and neck. In response, the officer struck the man in the face three times, while somehow not managing to injure him, and placed him in an arm bar hold until other officers could assist with taking him into custody. Officers charged him with assaulting a police officer.

A 20-year-old Elgin man is accused of cashing a $650 check made out to a person with a similar name that was reportedly stolen from a landscaping company. The man’s father told police he believes his son has fled to Atlanta.

Elgin officers issued a summons to a 14-year-old boy for aggravated assault for allegedly pushing his mother down, causing her to break her leg, when she tried to take away his cellphone.

Someone stole a trailer hitch from off a pickup truck parked on Oakland Drive between 12:30 and 4:30 p.m. June 1.

Elgin officers also dealt with recent incidents involving ABC law violation, bond/no contact order violation, damaged mailboxes, DUI, driving under suspension, expired vehicle license, family dispute, improper tag, larceny, minor in possession of beer, missing person, no driver’s license, no proof of insurance, possession of drug paraphernalia, public consumption of beer, public disorderly conduct, recovered firearm, runaway, seatbelt violation, shoplifting, speeding, trespassing, uninsured vehicle, unsecured property, and a woods fire.

(EPD reports are provided under the S.C. Freedom of Information Act. Subjects are considered innocent until proven guilty.)