The Sheriff’s Office yesterday arrested a Gray Court area man on an Attempted Murder charge from last month. The man is also wanted by Laurens Police for a domestic violence case from early this month.

22-year-old Travours Terrell Grant of 283 Cheek Road, Gray Court was served yesterday with an Attempted Murder warrant in which Sheriff’s Investigator Lt. Jawarski Shelton states that Grant attempted to murder a Clinton woman on May 31^st by shooting into her car on Paul Street outside Laurens. A Laurens City warrant also charges Grant with Criminal Domestic Violence of a High and Aggravated Nature.

Lt. Heath Copeland states that Travours Terrell Grant did assault a Laurens woman several times at a location on Independence Avenue on June 4^th while also having a 40 caliber Baretta pistol to her head. During arraignment yesterday, a $100,000 bond was set on the Attempted Murder charge and a $25,000 bond was set on the charge of Criminal Domestic Violence of a High and Aggravated Nature. Travours Terrell Grant remained in the Johnson Detention Center this morning.

The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office was investigating a Robbery that happened this morning at the Hot Spot in the Maddens Station community south of Laurens. The suspects were described as two black males traveling in a white Honda. The vehicle reportedly left the Hot Spot headed South, toward Waterloo, on US 221. Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office, or Laurens County Crimestoppers at 68-CRIME.

   A Waterloo man was served with five charges yesterday in connection with his allegedly holding a Laurens County Deputy at gunpoint Tuesday night. The man was reportedly threatening to shoot himself, and asked for Captain Duane Howard to come speak with him. While Howard was trying to talk him out of the situation, the man allegedly held the gun on the officer. 47-year-old David Bruce Waters of 2376 Riverfork Road was charged yesterday with Kidnapping, 1^st Degree Assault and Battery, Use of a Weapon during Commission of a Violent Crime, Pointing and Presenting a Firearm at a person and with Breach of Peace of an Aggravated Nature. In warrants obtained by Deputy J.D. Willis yesterday, Mr. Waters is accused of holding a gun to a deputy’s head, throat and chest Tuesday night at 2376 Riverfork Road, of unlawfully confining, or kidnapping the officer, and he is accused of committing a breach of the peace of an aggravated nature by uttering threatening speeches in an offensive manner to the terror of the community and police officers.

Bond was denied on all five charges yesterday. David Bruce Waters remained in the Johnson Detention Center.

  The Sheriff’s Office yesterday arrested a Clinton man on multiple drug and firearm charges from an incident last month. 23-year-old Sidney Antwon Cheeks of 105-A North Bell Street, Clinton was charged with Trafficking in Crack Cocaine, Unlawful Carrying of a Pistol, Possession of a Weapon During Commission of a Violent Crime, Possession of a Firearm by a Person Convicted of a Felony and with Simple Possession of Marijuana. Sheriff’s Corporal Nick Moye alleges that on May 19^th Sidney Cheeks knowingly possessed 10 grams or more of crack cocaine at 512 Conway Avenue, Laurens. Cpl Moye further states that Cheeks was in possession of a handgun at the same time and location, and that he was previously convicted of a crime of violence. The deputy further state Cheeks was in possession of less than an ounce of marijuana. Bonds on the charges were set yesterday totaling $95,620. Sidney Antwon Cheeks remained in the Johnson Detention Center this morning.

 A Greenville man was arrested in Clinton this morning in connection with alleged possession of a stolen pistol. Clinton Public Safety Sgt. Cathy Anderson was dispatched to Clinton Tire at 2:22 this morning on a suspicious vehicle report. Four males were observed in a vehicle backed up to a bay of the business. Sgt. Anderson and Officer Phillip Wicker approached the vehicle, detecting a strong smell of marijuana from inside the vehicle and receive identification of all four occupants. A quantity of marijuana was reportedly retrieved from a back-seat passenger. Sgt. Anderson also reportedly found 22 caliber bullets wrapped in a package. One subject reportedly acknowledged the gun was in a backpack. A 22 caliber Ruger Revolver was then also taken into evidence. Further investigation indicated the pistol had been stolen from Greenville County. One of the four subjects was then arrested. 22-year-old Malik Wright of Lakeside Road, Greenville was charged with Simple Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and a warrant was prepared for a judge this morning to also charge Mr. Wright with Possession of a Stolen Pistol. Malik Wright was being held in Clinton City Jail pending his arraignment this morning.

   The Laurens County Disability and Special Needs Board is looking for jobs for its clients. Scott Brewington appeared before the Laurens Commission of Public works this week asking that the CPW look for any openings that could provide part-time or full-time employment to some of their clients. Brewington said the Special Needs Board seeks to serve its clients in every avenue of life, and that many people in their care are able to perform various job functions. He said clients are available for positions from 2 to 40 hours per week. He also noted that the Board’s Sheltered workshop is now running low of work. They contract with manufacturers for various outsourcing jobs, which also provide employment for Disability and Special Needs clients. He said employment for many of these clients helps provide financial assistance for them and their families.

   A Laurens woman was sentenced in General Sessions Criminal Court yesterday after entering a plea to a Grand Larceny charge. 30-year-old Andrea Marie Shockley of 1782 Whelon Road, Laurens was charged with Grand Larceny from an offense last December 5^th. Her sentence yesterday was for five years in the state prison system, which was suspended to four months incarceration followed by five years on probation.

She was being held in the Johnson Detention Center overnight, pending transfer to SCDC.

   A man was being held for multiple charges overnight after allegedly holding a Sheriff’s Officer at gunpoint. Laurens County Deputy James Willis was dispatched to Riverfork Road, Waterloo at 10:24 last night on a report of a man having a gun and stating he was going to kill himself. The man reportedly requested to speak with Captain Duane Howard of the Sheriff’s Office. The Captain was contacted and spoke with the subject by telephone. The man reportedly asked for Howard to come speak with him in person. Captain Howard reportedly attempted to talk the man into putting the gun down. At one point during this discussion, the man allegedly held the gun on Captain Howard for a period of approximately five minutes. The subject later went back inside the house and Captain Howard was able to leave. Deputies Willis and Johnston then reportedly heard an argument inside. The man’s girlfriend then reportedly took his gun and threw it outside. Deputies Willis and Johnson caught the man as he attempted to retrieve the gun and placed him under arrest.  

47-year-old David Bruce Waters of 2376 Riverfork Road, Waterloo was placed in the Johnson Detention Center. Deputy Willis was to seek warrants today to charge the man with Assault on an Officer and other related charges.

 Clinton Public Safety Officers arrested three juveniles early yesterday morning as they investigated a series of car break-ins that have occurred in Clinton over the past month or so. Chief Robin Morse said that the three were 16 and younger, and we being held at the Department of Juvenile Justice. He said the investigation is continuing, but they expect to be able to resolve a lot of car break-ins, perhaps from 15 to 30, that have occurred in recent weeks.

     Last night’s Laurens County Council meeting brought good news from the Elliott Davis CPA firm regarding its independent report financial procedures for the county. These procedures automated the transfer of accounting records from the treasurer’s general ledger software system QS1 to the finance department’s general ledger software system CSI for the period of July 1, 2012 to March 31, 2013. The county is in the process of consolidating all departments into a single accounting system.

   Meanwhile, the budget for fiscal year 2013-2014 is nearing the end of a long annual process. At last night’s County Council meeting the date was set for the final, 3^rd reading on the budget. First, the required public hearing on the budget will be held on June 25^th at 5:30pm in the Historic Courthouse. That will be followed with a scheduled final vote on the budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1^st. Council Chairman Jim Coleman noted council has not heard from any departments as to appearing before council to discuss any budget actions taken by council thus far.

     Despite the absence of public comment, council did receive some comment during the meeting. Captain Joe Tyson was on hand from the Johnson Detention Center with a concern that the county facility is loosing staff to other counties who pay higher salaries.