Police | Four charged in jewelry store burglary

POLICE

CONWAY

Four charged in jewelry store burglary

Four people have been charged in connection with a jewelry store burglary in Conway, according to a news release from Conway Police spokeswoman Catina Hipp.

Sean Christian Earls, 23, of North Charleston; Wendy Ann Wells, 40, of Hanahan; Vernnon Williams, 54, of Charleston; and Dennis Brian McCrea, 40, of Hanahan, all are charged with second-degree burglary and possession of burglary tools in a burglary at Ann Booth Jewelers, located on Third Avenue in Conway city limits.

A bond hearing for all four is scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, Hipp said.

Georgetown County

Man wanted for attempted murder

Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a man wanted for two counts of attempted murder.

Sheriff officials said Brian Keith Elliott of Georgetown invited a male victim to his home Monday to help him with an injured dog, according to a press release.

Upon driving to Elliott’s home in his truck, accompanied by his girlfriend, the man told sheriff’s deputies they saw Elliott in his backyard.

The man began slowing down and was about to turn into Elliott’s yard, when they saw him running towards them.

The couple sensed something wasn’t right about Elliott’s actions, and instead of turning into Elliott’s yard, the man fled in his truck. The victims said Elliott began firing shots at them.

The man and his girlfriend left the scene and got onto S.C. 521, drove west. Police said Elliott was seen chasing them briefly but eventually stopped. The couple was not injured.

Sheriff’s deputies responded to the incident at about 11 p.m. Monday when they met the victims at the 521 Mini Mart at 7275 Highmarket St. in Georgetown, and during the meeting noticed in their truck. several bullet holes.

Anyone with information that will help locate Elliott is being asked to call the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office at 546-5102.

North Myrtle Beach

Man sought in burglary

Officials with the North Myrtle Beach Public Safety Department are seeking 27-year-old Turmond Marquis Lamar Morant.

An arrest warrant has been issued charging him with first-degee burglary, police said.

Morant, a Conway resident, is accused of stealing a 32-inch television Sunday from a North Myrtle Beach residence, according to a police incident report.

A police officer said he saw Morant carrying the television on South Ocean Boulevard. Morant was wearing gloves and covered in sweat, although the temperature was 60 degrees.

After Morant was placed under arrest, and searched the police officer found a remote control in his pocket and lots of coins, according to police.

Morant said the television was from a cousin. Police took him to his cousin’s house where the relative said he had seen Morant hours earlier. Police released Morant after determining there was no evidence.

Police then searched properties between 15th Ave. S. and 16th Ave. S. and found a house on Holly Drive, where a window had been broken and a television missing.

Police contacted the homeowner, who was out of town, and verified they had a television.

Local

CAROLINAS

Waccamaw Bank faces regulatory action

Long-struggling Whiteville-based Waccamaw Bank has been declared "critically undercapitalized" and must now either increase its equity through new shares or find a buyer, according to a Federal Reserve enforcement action made public Tuesday, the Charlotte Observer reported.

The bank has until Jan. 6 to become adequately capitalized, the action states. It’s subject to a host of regulatory restrictions until then.

Waccamaw Bank signed an agreement to sell 11 branches, including those in Horry and Georgetown counties, to First Bank in October. The deal was waiting for regulatory approval but expected to be completed within three months, according to reports at the time.

The bank decided to sell the branches to raise money to meet regulatory requirements, Waccamaw Bank president Geoffrey Hopkins said in a statement at the time.

The bank also received a Fed enforcement action in June 2010, the StarNews in Wilmington reports, which directed the bank to strengthen management and operations.

The bank was recently delisted from Nasdaq after failing to file timely financial reports.

From staff reports