An argument that degenerated into physical violence involving a knife landed two people in jail Saturday night.

Nakina Salter, 28, 223 Gault Avenue, Union, is charged by the Union County Sheriff’s Office with assault and battery with intent to kill. Reginald Smith, 44, 301C Lipsey St., Union, is charged by the sheriff’s office with assault and battery.

Salter and Smith were arrested a short time after deputies were dispatched to a residence at 197 Hilltop View in Union in response to a report of a stabbing. When they arrived, deputies found Smith bleeding from his hand/wrist and body. Smith, who was transported to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center, told deputies Salter had stabbed him. He required emergency surgery for the stab wounds he’d suffered, including one on his lower abdomen.

A witness told deputies Smith was stabbed as he tried to close the door to the house to keep Salter out. She said Salter had reached around the door to stab Smith.

Deputies located Salter at her home and she told them the knife she’d used was in her purse. They seized the knife as evidence and read Salter her rights, which she waived to tell them what happened. She said she, Smith and two others had been at her house drinking. They asked her to give them a ride to the residence at 197 Hilltop View. During the drive Salter said she and Smith got into an argument.

When they arrived at the Hilltop View residence the argument continued and Salter said Smith hit and choked her. She then went to her car and got the knife. Smith attempted to close the door to keep her out while she was trying to get in and Salter said she reached around the door and began swinging the knife at him. After stabbing Smith, Salter said she went home.

Smith was questioned by deputies at the hospital and confirmed they had gottren into an argument in the car but said when they got out Salter smacked and pushed him. He said he then went inside the house and she came inside too where they began to fight, admitting he did hit her in the face. After they stopped fighting, Smith said Salter went out and got the knife and reached around the door he was trying to close and stabbed him.

Salter was transported to the Union County Jail where she was held until being released on bond Sunday. Smith was still in the hospital as of Monday afternoon.

Caught on tape

As the Christmas season approaches, it’s good to remember in this day and age of video surveillance, Santa isn’t the only one who knows if you’re being naught or nice.

Brittany Lorel Taylor, 20, 3993 Jonesville-Lockhart Highway, Union, is charged by the sheriff’s office with breach of trust less than $1,000.

Taylor is accused of taking scratch-off lottery tickets from her job at the Hot Spot convenience store on two separate occasions. The complainant in the case, Hot Spot security chief Coley Peake reported he’d become suspicious of Taylor after she’d come up short twice on her scratch-off cards. Peake said he watched the video tapes from the store’s security cameras and saw her pulling out and scratching the cards herself.

The incident report filed with the sheriff’s office states when questioned Taylor admitted to Peake she’d done it on two different days. Asked if she’d give a written statement, Taylor consented and did so. She was arrested Monday and transported to the Union County Jail where she was held until being released on personal recognizance that night.

Fighting

Getting into a fight at school is a good way for teenagers to see what the world looks like from the backseat of a police car.

Teachers at Union County High School had to break up a fight between a 14-year-old and a 15-year-old Friday morning. The two were arrested by public safety officers and transported to the public safety department where they were later released to their parents.

Investigation

The Union Public Safety Department is investigating an attempted break-in at the Salvation Army Thrift Store on Monday night.

An eyewitness told the office dispatched to the scene she saw what appeared to be a blue or black 2005-2008 Toyota drive down Mountain Street with no lights just before 9:30 p.m. The vehicle pulled in behind the store and the victim said she then heard a noise like someone was beating two pieces of metal together. She went to try to get a look at the license plate but when she got to the corner of the store a white male ran from the side door, jumped in the car and drove off toward Piggly Wiggly and South Church Street.

The witness said she also saw a two-tone van leave the parking lot as well.

A check of the store found the side door had been damaged and was open. The officer could not get into the building, however, because a steel door on the inside was locked. A keyholder was called to the scene to let the officer in to inspect the building. The officer checked the building and found that everything was okay.

Rifle stolen

The sheriff’s office is investigating the theft of a rifle from a truck parked on Fifth Street in Union over the weekend.

The victim said sometime between 11 a.m. Saturday and shortly after 11 a.m. Sunday, someone took a black .22-gauge/double-bolt action rifle with cammo scope from the back seat of his 1994 Camaro parked in front of his mother’s house at 117 5th St. The vehicle was not locked and the passenger side window was halfway down at the time of the theft.

The rifle and scope are valued at $210.

Counterfeit check

The sheriff’s office is trying to locate the individual who cashed a counterfeit check at Kelly One Stop at the end of October.

The complainant said a black male had cashed the check for $319.15. The check, which was made out from Lucky’s Scrap Metal, was returned to the store on Nov. 11 as altered/fictitious. The complainant provided the deputy with a copy of the check.

Arrests

The following persons were arrested by the public safety department:

Jeffery Lee Davis, 37, 150 Park Drive, Union, charged with trespassing after notice.

Antonio Rocell-Verdell Smith, 27, 1208 Linersville Road, Lot 13, Buffalo, charged with shoplifting.

Roberto Jimenez Mendoza, 29, 125 North Church St., Union, charged with no S.C. driver’s license.

The following person was arrested by the sheriff’s office:

Veronica Michelle Brannon, 40, 271 Meansville Road (Foxfire Apartments), Union, charged with fraudulent check.