Two men caught speeding ended up parked at the Union County Jail on drug, gun and armed robbery charges.

Xavier Decarlos Parks, 17, 125 Fox Hall Road, Spartanburg, and Demarius Allen McKanic, 18, 202 East Monroe St., Union, were traveling south on U.S. 176 around 1:30 a.m. Saturday when they were pulled over by Union County Sheriff's deputies for driving 60 mph in a 45 mph zone. When questioning Park and McKanic, deupties noticed they appeared nervous. They also notice what appeared to be the butt of a gun sticking out from under some clothes in the back seat. The butt belonged to a 9mm Hi-Point Arms pistol.

Parks and McKanic were removed from the vehicle and while being searched, McKanic admitted he had another gun in his rightboot. This turned out to be a loaded Omega HS-400 .22 caliber pistol. In searching McKanic, deputies also found a small bag of marijuana along with $15 in his pocket.

A search of the vehicle turned up a Dell laptop computer, a Kodak printer, a box of .22 caliber Winchester ammunition, extra keys, phones, two dark-colored jackets and a red shirt. Deputies also found a toboggan, a ski mask and gloves.

Further investigation linked Parks and McKanic to an armed robbery that occurred earlier that night in the Monarch community. The robbery occurred shortly after 9:30 p.m. at the intersection of Hayes Drive and John Street. The victim told deputies he'd been walking when he was approached by four young black males who asked him when they could buy drugs. When he told them he didn't mess with drugs at least three of them pulled out guns and ordered him to empty his pockets

The victim did as he was told and threw the contents to the ground as he'd been ordered to do. He said the robbers then scooped up his belonging and ran off with them. The items taken included a wallet containing $270, his driver's license and Social Security card, a set of keys and a cell phone.

The victim described the robbers as being between 15-18 and wearing hoodies. He said one was a lot taller than the others and his jacket had designs on it. The taller of the four did most of the talking and pulled out a large, semi-autormatic pistol, pulled back the slide and made the demands. The others had smaller weapons including a revolver and the other a chrome color semi-automatic.

The victim was called to the scene where the deputies were holding Parks and McKanic and identified them as two of the teens who robbed him. He also identified the keys found in the car as his.

When questioned about their involvement in the robbery, Parks said he and McKanic were present during the robbery. He said he would give a written statement at the jail but later reneged though he again said he and McKanic had been present during the robbery.

Parks and McKanic are both charged with armed robbery and violation of S.C. gun law. McKanic is also charged with possession of marijuana while Parks is also charged with speeding.

Their legal troubles don't end there, however, as the computer and printer found in their car were stolen from a home in Spartanburg County. Deputies contacted the owner who said they'd been stolen from her home on Wednesday. Based on the information gathered, the sheriff's office plans to charge Parks and McKanic with possession of stolen property under $1,000.

Drug Bust

An undercover sting in a convenience store parking lot landed three men in jail on drug charges Thursday morning.

Harry Lee Gore, 20, 4296 Lockhart Highway, Union, is charged by the Union County Sheriff’s Office with distribution of crack cocaine. Charged with conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine are Jonvan Terele Spears, 26, 543 Union Boulevard, and Michael James Jeter, 25, 402 Scott St., both of Union. Spears is also charged with driving under suspension and operating a vehicle with a suspended tag.

The three were arrested Thursday morning after an undercover operative of the sheriff’s office purchased crack cocaine from Gore in the parking lot of the Mini-Mart Store at 908 Duncan Bypass. According to the incident report filed by investigators, Gore was driven to the site by Spears in a Ford Explorer. After the sale, Gore, Spears and Jeter, who was also in the vehicle, left the parking lot and headed north on the bypass.

As deputies attempted to stop the vehicle and make the arrests, the three abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot. Their escape was short-lived as all three were soon in custody and headed to the Union County Jail. The car was impounded and towed away.

Gore and Spears remained in jail until Friday when they were released on bond. Jeter was still in jail as of Monday evening.

Arrests

The following persons have been charged by the sheriff’s office:

Emily Jean Vaughan, 36, 2045 Jonesville-Lockhart Highway, Union, charged Saturday with public drunk.

Chastity June West, 28, 209 New Hope Church Road, Jonesville, charged Saturday with breach of peace.

The following persons have been charged by the Union Public Safety Department:

Jonathan Frank Walden, 27, 141 Oakgrove Road, Lot 12, Union, charged Friday with driving under suspension and no vehicle license.

Charles Dennis Anderson, 55, 172 Coon Hunt Club Road, Union, charged Friday with assault and battery.

Thomas Worthy, 51, 104 Chambers Avenue, Union, charged Friday with disorderly conduct.