South Carolina Department of Revenue (SCDOR) agents have arrested a Richland County convenience store owner and charged him with three counts of tax evasion. Amitkmar Vinubhai Gohel, 45, of Columbia, reported a total of $293,149 in sales for 2017 through 2019 for his two stores, though the actual sales wereContinue Reading
Koon’s Watch A new year brings up many feelings and opportunities to resolve to do certain things that may have missed the mark in 2020. Maybe we set goals to purge our closets, to make more friends or even be more organized. Whatever it might be that you want toContinue Reading
One of the most valuable parts of your car – and an item of high interest to thieves – might be under it. A catalytic converter is a device on the underside of a vehicle that reduces environmental emissions. Required on all cars that operate in the U.S. since 1975,Continue Reading
By W. Thomas Smith Jr. Richland County Sheriff’s Dept. (RCSD) Deputy Sarah Merriman was presented the highest departmental honor – DEPUTY OF THE YEAR 2020 – during RCSD’s annual awards ceremonies, Wed. Jan. 13, 2021: But not before receiving Deputy of the Year for RCSD’s Region Four and the department’sContinue Reading
Chief Dennis has announced a long-awaited restructure to the department’s organizational chart. As we begin 2021, an Investigator position has been added to the Criminal Investigations Division. Senior Patrolman Miranda Payseur was promoted to the position of Corporal-Investigator. Investigator Payseur has spent the past two years in the Patrol DivisionContinue Reading
LEXINGTON, S.C. – A Myrtle Beach teen is accused of robbing and kidnapping a cab driver in Lexington County Thursday. Blake Austin McGrath, 19, was formally charged Friday morning with armed robbery, kidnapping and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, according to arrest warrants. “Based on information weContinue Reading
Koon’s Watch I was honored this week to take my third oath of office to serve as your Sheriff. Because of the current COVID-related conditions, I did so in a small, private ceremony with family, friends and colleagues at the Sheriff’s Department. The feel of the event provided me withContinue Reading
Hundreds of deputies later re-sworn By W. Thomas Smith Jr. For the seventh consecutive time since 1997, Leon Lott raised his right hand and was re-sworn as sheriff of Richland County, Tues. morning, Jan. 5. The oath of office was administered at the Richland County Courthouse in downtown Columbia byContinue Reading
Knights of Columbus honors Community Action Team officer By W. Thomas Smith Jr. Richland County Sheriff’s Dept. (RCSD) Lieutenant Marcus Kim was named DEPUTY SHERIFF OF THE YEAR 2020 by the Knights of Columbus’ Bishop England Assembly during ceremonies honoring Kim at RCSD’s Community Action Team (CAT) headquarters, Tues., Dec.Continue Reading
Koon’s Watch With Christmas season comes more generosity. People are giving and sharing and spreading holiday joy. This is the perfect time for thieves to take advantage of your generosity and distraction of holiday celebrations. They use world events like the newest vaccine to trick people into buying fake productsContinue Reading
William Chad Marino, age 50, was found guilty of Distribution of Heroin Third Offense November 19, in Lexington County General Sessions Court. Chief Administrative Judge Frank R. Addy, Jr., presided over the trial of this case and imposed a sentence under seal because Marino failed to appear for trial. OnContinue Reading