Man arrested after discovery of abandoned meth lab

Deputies with the Lincoln County Sheriff 's Office discovered an abandoned methamphetamine lab on C.E. Norman Road Monday, November 19. One clue that the outbuilding was not just another shed was the air-conditioning shaft that connected the structure to the main house.

A services theft led the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office to an abandoned methamphetamine lab last week.

On Monday, November 19, representatives of Rayle EMC (Rayle Electric Membership Corporation) requested that Lieutenant Tony Grooms of the sheriff's office meet them at a residence on C.E. Norman Road in reference to a theft of power.

"When Lt. Grooms arrived at the residence, it was determined that the previous tenants had altered the power meter," said a spokesman for the sheriff's office. "After obtaining permission from the owner of the rental property to search the residence and grounds, items were found in a small outbuilding that could have been used in the manufacturing of methamphetamine. Field-testing confirmed the presence of meth. The evidence was later submitted to the GBI Crime Lab in Augusta for further analysis."

Ralph Coyle, 35, who had previously resided at the C.E. Norman Road address, was arrested and charged with possession/manufacturing of controlled substances and theft of services. He is currently in custody in Gaffney, South Carolina, on a unrelated charge and awaits extradition to Lincoln County.

In a separate case, it was announced that one of the men involved in a flimflam operation that targeted residents on the McCormick Highway has been arrested. Tommy Martin Carroll, 42, of North Augusta, South Carolina, was arrested in Edgefield, South Carolina, and charged by Lincoln County authorities with burglary and attempted burglary. He is presently being held without bond in the Columbia County Detention Center.

On October 1, 2007, two men approached the residence of Dimple Banks - one identified himself as an employee of Rayle EMC and said he was mapping property lines for the power company. He attempted to get Banks to walk outside and show him the property line, but she refused.

Once the men left Banks' residence, they went to the home of Lounette Reese.

"Mrs. Reese walked the subject identifying himself as a Rayle EMC employee to the right-of-way, while the second man entered her residence and stole a sum of money and a lock box that contained personal papers," said the sheriff's office spokesman. "Prior to going inside the house, the second suspect severed the phone lines to give the pair enough time to get away."

The lock box was later recovered on Highway 378, between McCormick and Saluda. Fingerprints were taken at the scene.

The case remains open and warrants have been issued for the arrest of Thomas Anthony Riley, 45, of North Augusta by the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office and the Columbia County Sheriff's Office.

Riley is described as a white male, approximately 5'10" tall, with a slender build, brown eyes, and red hair.

The sheriff's office is working with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and Staff Sergeant Mike Cullinan of the Columbia County Sheriff's Office to solve the case.

Anyone having any information as to the whereabouts of Thomas Riley is asked to contact the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office at 706-359-4118 or 7320.

In his comments, Sheriff Gerald Lawson stated, "We are not going to have people taking advantage of our elderly citizens. I will request that the courts show no leniency to these individuals."

In other items of information, it was reported that Claude Pledger, 57, of a Thomson Highway address has been charged with possession of marijuana (more than one ounce); speeding; driving with an altered tag; and hit and run.

The charges stem from an incident that occurred on Friday, November 15, after the defendant entered the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office and requested a gun permit.

"Mr. Pledger had been recently served with a Temporary Protective Order, and his firearms confiscated per a court order," stated the sheriff's office spokesman. "Upon leaving the courthouse, Mr. Pledger got in his vehicle, backed out of a handicapped parking space, and struck Investigator Jack Hancock's patrol car on the passenger-side door. The investigator attempted to stop the subject, but he continued to drive away."

Hancock then contacted Chief Deputy Marcy Remsen and Lt. Grooms, who were on the Thomson Highway, and gave them a descrip- tion of the vehicle and the driver. The two officers spotted Pledger, and following a short chase, the subject pulled over on the roadside. A search of his vehicle revealed a quantity of marijuana.

Pledger is currently being held at an out-of-county facility in compliance with a court order. Bond will not be set until the defendant has undergone an evaluation.

Other arrests made recently by the sheriff's office include:

.. Deonte Norman, 21, of a Lewis Crook Road address, charged with possession of marijuana (less than one ounce).

.. Robert Lewis Murray, 54, of Atlanta, charged with possession of marijuana (less than one ounce) and public drunk.

.. William Russell Rogers, 39; Sherry Melissa Sinclair, 29; Lisa Renee Gepfert, 38; Lewis Paul Prince, 45; James Lee Beeland, 42; and Jimmy Archie Roland, 57, all of Lincoln County, were each charged with open container and seat belt violations.

Last month, deputies with the sheriff's office made a total of 71 arrests, including two DUI arrests; worked five burglaries and eight thefts; and recovered two stolen vehicles.

"Even though manpower in the sheriff's office is low, we are continuing our efforts to combat crime in Lincoln County," stated Sheriff Lawson.