South Carolina

Charleston

Sexual abuse allegation made against SC priest

The Diocese of Charleston has placed a priest on administrative leave after someone made an allegation of sexual misconduct against him.

Church officials said they are cooperating fully with investigators reviewing the allegation against Hayden Vaverek.

Authorities say someone went to police last week and said Vaverek assaulted the person about 15 years ago when Vaverek was pastor at Our Lady of Lourdes in Greenwood. During his career, Vaverek has also served in parishes and schools in Greenville, Simpsonville, Anderson, Greenwood, McCormick, Myrtle Beach, Garden City, Moncks Corner, Bonneau and Hilton Head Island.

Investigators say Vaverek was in Rome when the allegation was made and has not been interviewed.

Florence

High speed, 2-county chase wrecks 2 police cars

Authorities say a high-speed chase through two counties ended with two patrol cars and two other vehicles wrecked, but no serious injuries.

Troopers said the chase began Saturday afternoon in Sumter County and continued up Interstate 95 into Florence County.

Investigators say the chase ended several miles east of I-95 in Florence, when Antonio Morrisey’s car hit another vehicle and ran through a fence into a backyard. Two patrol cars were also damaged during the chase.

Troopers are trying to determine why Morrisey didn’t stop for officers. He is charged with reckless driving, possession of a stolen vehicle, driving without a license, property damage and failure to stop for a blue light.

Mullins

Teacher charged with assault

Marion County School District officials placed a Mullins school teacher on leave pending an investigation into an assault charge involving a 13-year old student.

Mullins Police Lt. Joe Graham said officers charged a teacher at Palmetto Middle School with simple assault following an incident at the school last week.

The 13-year-old student and grandmother filed a complaint, reporting there was a fight at the school. When the student attempt to leave after hearing her bus called, she alleges the teacher tried to stop her by pushing her twice. The scuffle resulted in the teacher’s hand getting tangled on the student’s outer vest and hitting her face, the report said. The student and grandmother weren’t satisfied with their conversation with school administrators and contacted police.

No medical attention was needed and the student didn’t show any signs of swelling or bruising, the report said.

Deputy Superintendent Kandace Bethea called it an internal matter that is under investigation and no further details would be released.

North Carolina

Gibsonville

2 children die in house fire

Two young siblings died in an early Saturday morning house fire, despite efforts by their grandfather and two passers-by who could not get past the flames to reach the children.

Jade Hawks, 1, and Matthew Ridge-Powls, 4, died in the fire in Gibsonville.

The Guilford County fire marshal said a space heater ignited combustible materials in the home’s living room. The children were sleeping in a bedroom next to the living room, officials said.

The house did not have a working smoke detector or residential sprinklers, said Mike Wright, deputy director of Guilford County Emergency Services fire division.

The children’s bodies were taken to the medical examiner’s office in Chapel Hill for autopsies.

Their grandfather, Fred Ridge, was at home with them at the time of the fire and tried to rescue them, Wright said. He suffered burns to his hand and his hair was singed, Wright said. Paramedics treated him at the scene, but he refused to go to the hospital.

The status of the passers-by who stopped to help was unclear Saturday.

Burlington

Man defends home with nunchucks

A man was hospitalized Saturday after Burlington police say he broke into a home and the resident used nunchucks to defend his home.

Police were called to a house at 3:45 a.m. about someone breaking into the home. When they arrived they found one man being held down by another man. Both were injured, police said.

Officers said the man on the floor that was held down – Calvin Matthew Trollinger – broke into the home and assaulted the man and woman who lived there. The man who lived at the house hit Trollinger in the head with a pair of nunchucks to stop Trollinger from assaulting the couple, police said.

The couple’s injuries were minor. Trollinger received a cut on his head and was airlifted to UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill.

Police said Trollinger, of Burlington, will be arrested for first-degree burglary, simple assault and assault on a female when he’s released from the hospital.

From wire reports