Man arrested after exposing himself to a young student
Police arrested a man who they say exposed himself Monday morning to a high school student who was on her way to school, The State reported.
The Eau Claire High School student said she notified personnel about what happened once she got to school around 8 a.m., according to an incident report.
Columbia police then began searching for the man based on a description the student provided. When a police officer saw Herbert John Smith Jr., 28, of Eastover, Smith began running from the officer.
The officer arrested Smith in connection with the incident and charged him with flashing the student on the 4900 block of Monticello Road.
Search underway for man who jumped off bridge
Richland County Sheriff’s Department and Columbia Fire Department officials searched for a man who jumped off the Broad River bridge on Tuesday afternoon, The State reported.
Capt. Chris Cowan of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department said authorities received a 911 call at 1 p.m. that a man jumped into the Broad River, and deputies saw the man in the water.
Cowan said the man floated about 1,000 yards until going below the surface of the water, and he hasn’t been seen since. Officers found a car with papers and an ID, but they do not know if they belong to the man who jumped.
Cowan said deputies and a dog searched the area, but there isn’t evidence that the man climbed up the banks and got out of the river. Airplanes and boats also searched for the man, but the murky water made the search more difficult.
Suspect shot after trying to run over deputy
A Richland County sheriff’s deputy shot a suspected drug dealer after the man tried to run the officer over with his car on Tuesday, The State reported.
Ty-meek Tyheen Payne, 21, was under surveillance for alleged drug dealing and refused to stop for questioning by Deputy Kirk Willis at 11 a.m. by a St. Andrews apartment complex, officials said.
Sheriff Leon Lott said Payne began throwing drugs out of his car window while driving. Willis then shot Payne in the forearm.
Officers went to Payne’s apartment, where deputies allegedly found a gun and marijuana.
The suspect now faces attempted murder of a police officer and multiple drug charges.