Looking for a way to kickstart your weekend with high-energy action? The Irmo Fire District’s High Intensity Team (HIT) is hosting a free community workout Saturday, March 21, and residents are invited to train alongside local firefighters. Whether you’re ready to push your limits or simply want to enjoy aContinue Reading
By Michael DeSumma The Columbia-Richland Fire Department honored the work of its members at the department’s annual awards ceremony February 20. Thirty-eight awards were presented during the event at C.A. Johnson High School. A majority of honors went to firefighters who went above and beyond the call of duty toContinue Reading
Award is the namesake of 2021 National Sheriff of the Year Leon Lott By W. Thomas Smith Jr. The S.C. Black Belt Hall of Fame (SCBBHOF) presented Tarrant County (Texas) Sheriff Bill E. Waybourn with the prestigious LEON LOTT – FIRST THROUGH THE DOOR AWARD during an awards dinner heldContinue Reading
LEXINGTON — Lexington County investigators are asking for the public’s help in a missing person case that began more than a year ago. Drayton Lucas, 25, was last seen the morning of Feb. 8, 2025, according to his family. “Family members tell us they believe Drayton walked away from theirContinue Reading
Richland County Sheriff’s Department points to mobile-phone forensics as “vital asset” in recent homicide-solving successes By W. Thomas Smith Jr. Recent national reports of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department’s (RCSD) successes in solving 100-percent of all homicide cases (80 murder cases in fact since 2023) beg the question: How? BroadContinue Reading
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Columbia has returned a two-count indictment charging Eric Anthony Rome Jr., 37, an inmate in the South Carolina Department of Corrections, with sending a threatening letter to a Jewish/Christian organization and threatening to kill former President Donald Trump. According to the indictment,Continue Reading
International intelligence collection, countering human-trafficking, mine-clearing efforts in Eastern Europe, expansion into Africa, and a South Carolina connection By W. Thomas Smith Jr. The board of directors of U.S.-based CRIME STOPPERS GLOBAL SOLUTIONS (CSGS) gathered for a quarterly Zoom meeting, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, to discuss ongoing projects on severalContinue Reading
LEXINGTON, S.C. (January 15, 2026) — The Lexington Police Department is seeking information on the whereabouts of Christian Dominick Long, 33, of Lexington, in connection with a series of thefts from motor vehicles. According to investigators, the incidents occurred during the early morning hours of December 24, 2025, in aContinue Reading
Press conference addresses the good and not-so-good in terms of criminal activity over the previous year By W. Thomas Smith Jr. Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott held a first-of-the-year press conference, January 6, addressing countywide crime trends – the good and the not so good – going into 2026. LottContinue Reading
Popular Midlands-area School Resource Officer attends international police conference in Seoul By W. Thomas Smith Jr. I love Korea. I love and respect the country for its deep, rich history and culture (food and art included), and for the very nature of who the Korean people are and have beenContinue Reading
Richland County EMS staff delivered multiple ambulance loads of toys and gifts on December 15 as part of the county’s annual Stuff an Ambulance holiday toy drive. The delivery took place at the Richland County Judicial Center in downtown Columbia. The donated items will benefit children involved in Richland CountyContinue Reading
COLUMBIA — The Columbia-Richland Fire Department recognized 21 of its members who advanced to new leadership roles during a promotion ceremony held Dec. 1 at the Busby Street Community Center. The ceremony honored the promotion of 12 firefighters to senior firefighter, seven to fire captain, as well as the appointmentContinue Reading
LEXINGTON COUNTY — A Lexington County man and woman were arrested following a traffic stop that led to multiple drug and weapons charges, according to the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department. Jonathon Shockley, 26, was charged with: Two counts of trafficking fentanyl Two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaineContinue Reading
The Richland County Sheriff’s Department raised over $1,800 in a single day this year By W. Thomas Smith Jr. FOR THE FIFTH YEAR IN A ROW, Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott and deputies with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) were out in force ringing the bells for the SalvationContinue Reading
Larry Payne’s life’s work is reflected in his three decades of service to Richland County By W. Thomas Smith Jr. In January 2018, then-Lieutenant Larry Payne was one of three Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) deputies featured in a national POLICE1 article which examined the department’s unique and first-of-its-kind pre-PTSDContinue Reading
Mullikin celebrates law enforcement officers from across South Carolina By W. Thomas Smith Jr. Dr. Tom Mullikin, director of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources – and one of 60 of the most influential (impactful) military leaders from S.C. recognized during Veterans Month whosonthemove.com/ – was the keynote speaker forContinue Reading