Local law enforcement questioned a possible suspect around 2 this morning in connection with a firearm theft, but no charges were filed.
Laurens City Police were dispatched to Sherwood Drive at 12:49 this morning on a report of a .357 revolver being stolen from a vehicle. A resident said he went to his truck around 12:30 to retrieve a pack of cigarettes and noticed the center console was open and his .357 pistol was missing. He was unsure if he locked the truck last night. The pistol, holster, a speed clip and 10 rounds of .357 ammunition was missing. Value of the stolen items was set at $655.
Laurens Police Officer Michael Gainey was patrolling the West Main Street area due to suspicious activity and a possible string of thefts from motor vehicles this morning. At 1:09 am he turned onto Barksdale Circle and reportedly observed a door ajar on a minivan parked at a residence. As the officer reversed the patrol car to check the vehicle he noticed a subject in dark clothing run behind the vehicle toward Wedgewood drive. Officer Gainey proceed down Wedgewood Drive trying to locate the subject and advised other units that the subject may be attempting to flee on foot. Officer Simmons then observed a subject running through a back yard between Wedgewood and Barksdale circle. Officer Simmons then engaged in foot pursuit with two subjects wearing black who were riding bicycles. He lost sight of the subjects near Harts Court. Officers surrounded the area but were unable to locate the subjects. They checked with the resident on Barksdale Circle where the subject was spotted near the minivan. The resident checked and found nothing missing.
The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office joined with Laurens Police this morning establishing a perimeter in an attempt to locate the two subjects seen riding off on bicycle. Deputy Willis advised Officer Gainey that he had a suspicious person on Suber Road who matched the description. A vehicle was found parked in the middle of the road and a subject was banging on a door at a nearby residence. When questioned, the man said he had come to that house to see his cousin. The man in the home told officers he had no idea why his cousin would be at his house at 2 o’clock in the morning. The man said he had just left his house in Laurens.
Officers checked with the man’s brother in town who said the subject left the house around midnight, saying he was going to the Waffle House. Officers checked the vehicle for the stolen .357 pistol and did not locate the firearm or any other stolen items. As a result, in spite of the fact the man was acting nervously and not being truthful, he was released because officers determined that was a lack of evidence to connect him to any theft.