Staff Writer

An Upstate couple who took fishing equipment from Union's Wal-Mart were arrested Tuesday and a child with them was taken into protective custody.

Eugene Harold Tyler, 42, of 314 East Main St., Taylors was charged by the public safety department with driving under suspension, shoplifting and simple possession of marijuana. A report said Tyler also is wanted in Pickens County for shoplifting and by the North Carolina Department of Corrections for violation of probation.

Sharon Lynn Fowler, 38, of 110 El Craigo Drive, Greer, was charged with shoplifting.

Officers were called to the store around 4 p.m. after the loss prevention officer reported a couple was shoplifting. He said a man wearing a black T-shirt with tattoos on both arms and a woman wearing a red shirt had fishing reels and floor mats in their possession. Officers saw the two walking out of the exit at the Garden Center. As officers approached, the two got into a car “in a hurry.” Officer Dell Mitchell ordered them to stop, but they left with Tyler driving.

Officers and Trooper Butch Kimbrell with the S.C. Highway Patrol got behind the car on the Duncan By-Pass and stopped it at Bi-Lo. Ms. Fowler admitted the couple had shoplifted; she said Tyler put the reels in his pants. Officers also determined Tyler's license was suspended.

Officers found nine fishing reels under the front seat. A partially smoked marijuana cigarette was in the ash tray behind the passenger seat.

Ms. Fowler's 15-year-old daughter was in the car. Cpl. Tommy Hart allowed the child to make a phone call to try and get someone to pick her up, but she was unsuccessful. A Department of Social Services worker was called and she determined through a computer check that DSS already had an active case against Ms. Fowler. The child was placed in protective custody.

Couple arrested

A man and woman were arrested Tuesday after a marijuana plant was found at a home where officers had been called to handle an assault.

Angela Dawn Kelley, 37, of 1107 Arthur Boulevard and David Wayne Bledsoe, 42, of 3229 West Springs Highway, Buffalo, were each charged Tuesday by the Union Public Safety Department with manufacturing marijuana. Bledsoe also was charged with criminal domestic violence.

A report said Sgt. Jermaine Smith was called to Ms. Kelley's home after a domestic problem was reported. Ms. Kelley said Bledsoe had struck her in the head several times with his fist and chocked her. She said he was upset because she came home late and he didn't know where she was.

Bledsoe was arrested. He told officers there was a marijuana plant behind the house that belonged to Ms. Kelley.

Ms. Kelley said the plant belonged to Bledsoe; he had brought it to her residence about a month ago when he moved in. The report said she also was charged with growing marijuana because she was aware the plant was on the property.

Assault charge

Gilliam Edwards, 66, of 100 Recreation Road, Buffalo, was charged Monday by the Union County Sheriff's Office with assault with a deadly weapon.

A report said Cpl. Scott Ruby and Deputy Thom McAbee were called to Duncan Avenue Saturday after an assault was reported. Clarence Tucker, 56, said he was at a community fund-raiser and he and Edwards got into a disagreement which led to an argument. Tucker said he and Edwards were asked to leave the fund-raiser. Tucker said as he left, Edwards followed him out, pulled a pocket knife and threatened to kill him. Tucker said he moved toward his van to retrieve a tire iron for protection. Tucker said he and Edwards again were asked to leave. He said he went home and called 911.

Tucker told officers several people witnessed the incident.

Thefts

On 316 Sardis Road, a victim told Cpl. Jared Gilstrap Tuesday that someone took four folding lawn chairs and two folding card tables from his yard. These are worth $160. A neighbor reported seeing a white man who was 50 to 60 years old, around 6 feet, 3 inches tall and with a large stomach take the items. The man was in a newer model black or gray truck.

In the 1400 block of the Kelly Road, a vehicle was broken into Tuesday. The victim told Gilstrap he was coon hunting and someone went into his 1994 Ford truck through the rear sliding glass door. The latch was broken and someone stole a Tritonics dog shock collar and an Ipod. These are worth $750.

On 119 Playground Drive, Buffalo, a woman told Deputy Roger Hill that someone entered her home sometime between July 11 and Tuesday and took an envelope from the coffee table which contained $180.

Monday, a break-in was reported at Palmetto Custom Cabinets on 838 Rice Avenue Extension. The victim told Sgt. Jimmy Johnson that someone entered the shop and the company truck. Nothing was taken after the shop was pried open, but $2,160 worth or tools was stolen.

On 651 Timberlake Road, Union, a woman told Gilstrap on Monday that sometime since June 4 someone took a 5,000 BTU heating and air conditioning unit from a window of the residence and a Murray push mower from under the house. These are worth $635.

On 122 Bird St., a reported to Hill Monday that an air conditioning unit was stolen. The victim said a white man driving a burgundy Ford Escort took the unit from one of the mobile home lots on the property. The victim said the same man stripped another unit for its copper. The value of the unit and the copper wiring is $1,000.

Also on Monday, a woman on 1208 Linersville Road told Officer Tim Gaston Kershaw that someone took $800 from her pocketbook, which was in her living room.

On 312 McLure St., a victim reported to Johnson Monday that someone took his T-125 Yamaha dirt bike from his front yard. It is worth $2,200.

Theft charges

Two men are accused of stealing parts and equipment earlier this month.

Joseph Lester Cochran, 30, of 146 Proctor Road, Jonesville, and Scott Alberry Rector, 48, of 736 Monarch Highway, Union, both were charged by the Union County Sheriff's Office with grand larceny, trespassing and malicious damage to property.

Friday, the victim on 714 Monarch Highway told Cpl. Jeff Wright that someone took parts and an 8 hp motor from his shop. The victim said he had a Briggs and Stratton generator behind the shop. He noticed it had been moved and went to check on it. He said someone had taken 75 feet of leeds and other welding equipment from the generator worth $900. The motor mounts and other parts had been removed as if someone was coming back for the motor. The victim valued the damage to the generator at $1,500. An 8 hp motor was taken from a “whirly bird,” that is worth $350 and a large amount of copper wire worth $200 was taken.

Both Cochran and Rector are being held in the Union County Jail. No bond has been set for Rector and Cochran's bond is $10,000.