Police blotter

One arrested, one sought in scams

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Edgefield County, S.C., authorities have arrested one of two men accused of a scam targeting area elderly residents, including some in Columbia County.

Tommy Martin Carroll, 43, of North Augusta's Murphy Village, was arrested in Edgefield on Tuesday morning and charged with robbery and criminal attempt, Columbia County Sheriff's Capt. Steve Morris said Wednesday.

Police are still searching for Thomas Anthony Riley, also of Murphy Village. Columbia County sheriff's deputies had been searching for the men, saying they had been targeting elderly residents while posing as utility workers, painters and paving service providers.

Carroll remained Friday at the Edgefield County jail, where jail personnel said he is being held without bond on a probation violation. Anyone with information about Riley is asked to call (706) 541-2800.

Woman sentenced in meth lab case

The last of three people indicted in March on drug manufacturing charges was sentenced to prison in Columbia County on Tuesday.

Jamie Cloud Brosious, 38, of Evans, pleaded guilty to manufacturing methamphetamine and manufacturing the drug in the presence of a child as part of a negotiated plea agreement with the district attorney's office.

Superior Court Judge Duncan Wheale sentenced Brosious to five years in prison followed by five years on probation. She is required to pay a $10,000 fine.

Cheree Renee Granade, 29, of Grovetown, and Wayne Scott Fernandez, 44, of Augusta, pleaded guilty to the same charges Oct. 18 and received eight years in prison. The three were accused of making the drug in Brosious' Pond View Drive home. Brosious also was charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of a controlled substance.

The following accounts were taken from reports filed with the Columbia County Sheriff's Office.

Accused shoplifter leaves wallet behind

A shoplifting suspect who wrestled with security officers Tuesday at an Evans store, was later arrested at a Martinez home after he dropped his wallet during the scuffle and witnesses got his vehicle's license plate number, police said.

Manolin Carabello Jr., 41, of Oak Lake Drive in Martinez, was charged with shoplifting and simple battery. He was released early Wednesday from the Columbia County Detention Center on $3,200 bond.

Security officials at Target told deputies they saw Carabello stuffing video games in his pants and tried to detain him outside the store. Carabello left in a Dodge Caravan when two juveniles tried to break up the scuffle between Carabello and two security guards.

During the scuffle, Carabello dropped five video games, along with his wallet containing two New York identification cards. Deputies tracked the license plate number to an Oak Lake Drive residence. Carabello admitted to taking six other video games, deputies said.

Man charged with offering cash for sex

A 27-year-old Martinez man was arrested Tuesday after deputies say he asked a hotel maid for sex.

Javier Lopez, whose listed address was the Quality Inn on Jimmie Dyess Parkway, was charged with pandering and held in the Columbia County Detention Center on Friday on $2,600 bond.

A housekeeper at the Econo Lodge on Jimmie Dyess Parkway told deputies Lopez was in a room she was cleaning and said he would pay her $200 for sex.

Deputies found Lopez at the Quality Inn and arrested him after he was identified by witnesses.