Staff Writer

A Jonesville man arrested Friday by the Union Public Safety on drug charges also faces additional charges lodged by the sheriff's office.

Kenneth Marcell Porter, 21, of 340 Mt. Joy Church Road was charged with distribution of crack, distribution of crack within one-half mile of a school and assault and battery.

A report said Lt. John Sherfield with the sheriff's office and Investigator Mickey Parker with the public safety department provided $40 to an informant who went to the Chambertown area in an attempt to purchase illegal narcotics. There, the informant met with Porter behind some apartments off West Henrietta Street and bought crack cocaine. The incident occurred within one-half mile of Excelsior Middle School.

Porter was charged Friday by the Union Public Safety Department with distribution of crack and distribution of crack within one-half mile of a school.

A warrant signed by Parker said Porter sold crack to an informant at Dixie Curb Market on Oct. 22. Dixie Curb Market also is near Excelsior Middle School.

The incident in which Porter is charged with assault occurred on Sept. 7. The victim told Deputy Russell Roark that Porter came to his residence. The victim asked him to leave. Porter struck him in the face, which bruised his cheekbone and Porter then left.

Thefts

A Union teen-ager told Cpl. Dean Gibson Monday that someone had stolen $2,275 worth of dog supplies from him.

The victim on 1377 Jonesville Highway , said a Wood and Water dog box for transporting dogs is missing. It is worth $1,000. Inside the box were shock collars worth $400 a tracking system worth $500 and a Bright Eyes 28-volt belt light worth $375.

On 3260 Mt. Lebanon Road, a victim told Deputy Wendy Childers Monday that someone stole his mailbox, which is worth $130. The mailbox was shaped like a large-mouth bass and was made of green plastic.

On 1110 Main St., Buffalo, a man told Deputy Tim Gaston Monday that someone stole his vehicle tag while he was parked at Big Bob's Produce. It is worth $38.

Sunday, a man on 1206 Old Buncombe Road, Union, told Sgt. Russell Vinson that items were stolen from his sister's vehicle. He said he was awakened by his dog barking and when he looked out the door a man was trying to enter the vehicle. He said the suspect didn't get into the cab, but did break the back driver's side window. Missing are a radio system from the enclosed truck bed. The victim said the suspect fled, got into a dark-colored Ford truck with two other suspects and left. He said as the suspects left, he threw a hatchet and broke out the back window of the truck.

The victim also said the suspects took a power saw, a skill saw and a roll of copper wire and they took a cell phone from another vehicle parked in the yard.

While he was there, Vinson found a camper that had been broken into. The victim said he rents the camper and was unsure at the time of the report if anything had been taken from it.

The stolen items are worth around $750. Damage was estimated at $200.

On 733 T Bishop Road, Jonesville, a man told Deputy Randy Manus Saturday that someone took his Suzuki motorcycle from a stand in his garage. The garage had no door. The yellow motorcycle is worth $3,800.

Monday, a man on 120 Wingfield Drive told Sgt. Kevin Powers with the Union Public Safety Department that someone had stolen a fireproof safe containing medication from his home.

Man arrested

Gregory Lynn Bennett, 31, of 2011 Glenwood Hills Drive, Spartanburg was charged Monday by the Union County Sheriff's Office with grand larceny, financial transaction card theft and financial transaction card fraud.

A report said the victim on 342 Sprouse Road told Deputy Ashley Jackson on Jan. 19 that a tool box with an assortment of tools was missing from his truck bed and a Browning 12 gauge shotgun was missing from behind the seats of the truck.

Bennett also is accused of taking credit cards from the residence and using them.

Woman arrested

Montez L. Rice, 27, of 1024 Wildwood Lane, Spartanburg, was charged Friday by the sheriff's office with three counts of financial transaction card theft.

The incident was reported Nov. 24, 2004. A representative from Disney Distribution Center in Jonesville called the sheriff's office and said that a victim had reported to them that she had a return to the business. While she was talking with Ms. Rice, then a Disney employee who had called her house, the employee asked for her bank card account number, saying it would “speed up” her return. The account number later was used to place an order to Eastbay Distributors and Nike. the orders were shipped to Ms. Rice's residence in Spartanburg.

Vehicle incident

Ricky Dale Keisler Jr., 32, of 214 Gin Circle, Buffalo, was charged by the sheriff's office with use of a vehicle without owner's consent. The warrant was served on Keisler in the South Carolina Department of Corrections, where he currently is serving time on another charge. The victim told Deputy Roxie Blue that Keisler took her 1991 Chevrolet Lumina to Halifax County, N.C., without her permission and wrecked it. Keisler told Belue he had permission to take the car.

Arrest made

Ralph Giles Jr., 48, of 104 Cabin St. was charged Tuesday by the public safety department with having an open container of alcohol, having drug paraphernalia, driving under suspension, second offense and having no proof of insurance. A report said Cpl. Tommy Hart was on patrol near Oak Street when he pulled Giles over for a faulty brake light. Beer was found in the car and Giles had a crack pipe in his pocket.

Credit card fraud

Otis Shippy Jr., 64, of 207 Carson St. was charged Tuesday by the public safety department with financial identity fraud.

An arrest warrant signed by Lt. Charles Henderson said Shippy, without authorization or permission, used the Social Security number and date of birth of a relative to obtain a Chase Bank credit card in 2001 that has been used on several occasions and now has a balance of $22,204.

Additional charges

Additional charges have been filed against a Union man accused of stealing checks and using them to buy items.

Five more counts of forgery were filed Tuesday against Randy Johnson, 43, of 918 Lakeside Drive.

According to warrants signed by Investigator Brian Bailey, Johnson stole checks from an elderly man and forged them at Exxon, Fresh Air Galaxy and Bi-Lo.

Johnson and his girlfriend, Millie Morman, 50, initially were arrested in the case on Jan. 29. Both also face charges by the Union County Sheriff's Office.