Staff Writer

A Union man is accused of selling marijuana to an undercover operative with the sheriff's office.

Joshua Matthew Carlos, 21, of 1300 South Pinckney St., was charged Friday with distribution of marijuana, distribution of marijuana within one-half mile of a school and possession of marijuana.

A report said Lt. John Sherfield gave an operative $20 and sent the operative to Pinckney Place to attempt to purchase illegal narcotics. There, the operative met Carlos, who sold him a quantity of marijuana. The sale occurred near Excelsior Middle School.

Friday, Sherfield, Lt. David Kitchens and Sgt. Jimmy Johnson with the sheriff's office, along with Investigator Mickey Parker with the public safety department, went back to Carlos' apartment with a search warrant. They seized a small bag containing marijuana, razor blades, a marijuana bong, photos, notes and seeds.

Shooting incident

Deputies are investigating a shooting incident that occurred Sunday night at the former Eison Store in Kelton.

Officers and Union County EMS were dispatched around 9:30 p.m. after it was reported that someone had been shot. En route, they were told that the person who had been shooting the gun had left. Deputies were given a description of the vehicle and the license plate.

Deputy Thom McAbee and Sgt. Dee Haney stopped the vehicle on the Pea Ridge Highway. Deputy Randy Manus and Cpl. Scott Ruby arrived to assist.

One of the people inside, a 36-year-old Spartanburg man, said he had been "jumped on" at the store. Deputies observed gashes on his elbows and knees. He gave consent to search the vehicle. A 9mm Ruger, loaded and with one round in the chamber, was found in the glovebox. A large knife in a case was under the seat. The gun did not belong to the Spartanburg man, but it did belong to one of the other people in the vehicle.

McAbee and Haney went to the store to look for the gunshot victim. A large crowd was gathered. They told deputies no one had been shot. One witness said the Spartanburg man had been drinking and was involved in an altercation at the gathering. The witness said he pulled out a gun, stood on the hood of the vehicle and fired shots before leaving the scene.

Lt. Al Black was called to the scene. Shell casings were recovered from the roadway.

Items stolen

On 628 Philippi Church Road, a man reported to Deputy Russell Roark that someone had taken 12 to 15 feet of copper wire and an auger from a barn and had stolen an iron bathtub from a field. The items stolen are worth a combined $2,608.

Dogs missing

The sheriff's office is investigating two reported dog thefts.

Saturday, a man on 501 Philippi Church Road told Deputy Roxie Belue that someone took his Yorkshire Terrier, which he said is worth $800.

The man said the miniature dog, which is black and tan, was only outside a short time before it disappeared. A witness said he saw a black Ford truck, maybe a 1970s model, pulling a small jon boat behind it, stopped in the roadway briefly about the time the dog disappeared.

Sunday, a woman on 134 Mt. Vernon Road told Deputy Thom McAbee and Sgt. Dee Haney that her six year old black and white Shitzu was missing from her carport. It is worth $100.

Fire destroys camper

A fire Sunday morning destroyed a camper occupied by a Santuc man.

The blaze on 213 Tinkercreek Road was reported around 9 a.m. Santuc Fire Chief Mark Wade said the camper was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived.

The occupant, Joe Linder, said he thought the fire may have been started by a problem with a gas cook stove, Wade said. The fire is still under investigation.

The late model camper was worth around $12,000.