By Richard Walker
The Times and Democrat
RIDGEVILLE, S.C. — Two volunteer firefighters and another person have been charged with using firefighting tools to steal copper.
North Police Chief Mark Fallaw said Friday his office, the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office and the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office were involved in the investigation. And officials in other counties have been notified of the thefts.
“This was an effort involving a lot of agencies,” Fallaw said.
Jonathan Ryan Carter, 24; Daniel Addison Carter, 17, and Jeffrey McQueen Riley Jr., 21, all of Ridgeville, are facing North warrants of possessing tools for criminal use and obtaining non-ferrous metals illegally.
Orangeburg County hit the Carter cousins with three charges each of criminal conspiracy in connection with break-ins at three electric companies across the county. They were also charged with grand larceny in connection with the theft of copper from Aiken Electric Co-op in North.
Riley remains in the Dorchester County Detention Center on a charge of filing a false police report. If he makes bond, he will be transferred to Orangeburg to face charges from North and Orangeburg County.
Officials believe the men caused at least $40,000 in damage with the thefts. That number could go higher as the investigation continues, they say.
Riley and Jonathan Carter were formerly members of the Ridgeville Volunteer Fire Department, Fallaw said. They have since been dismissed, he said.
The two Carters almost made bond Friday. On the four Orangeburg County charges, bond was set at $10,000 on each subject.
Orangeburg County Magistrate Peggy Doremus added to that bond on the North charges - another $10,000.
“That amount was posted by a bonding company after the hearing,” Fallaw said. “However, the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office placed a hold on both individuals before they could be released.”
The three were taken into custody Wednesday after more than two weeks of coordination and investigation by multiple agencies.
Around 1:30 a.m. on Jan. 2, several people used bolt cutters to break into the SCE&G facility on Savannah Highway in North.
“Riley and (Jonathan) Ryan Carter were volunteer firemen with the Ridgeville Volunteer Fire Department and ... used bolt cutters from the fire department to cut the fence and obtain the wire,” Fallaw said.
A concerned citizen later called saying a suspicious vehicle had been seen at nearby Aiken Electric Co-op on North Road.
Deputies approaching the area spotted a car matching that description and turned around to stop it. They reported the vehicle drove with its lights off into a field off Redmond Mill Road where the occupants fled on foot.
Police used evidence in the car to link the men to several thefts, officials said.
Riley later reported the car was stolen.
“Based on the investigation, officers have linked the three to copper thefts in Dorchester, Orangeburg, Bamberg, Barnwell, Charleston, Aiken and Calhoun counties. Investigators have notified agencies in the other counties,” Fallaw said.
Detectives Patricia Eikhoff and Joe Bistromowitz are leading the ongoing investigations in Orangeburg and Dorchester counties, respectively.
Anyone with knowledge about the crimes is asked to call Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIMESC.
Republished with permission from The Times and Democrat.