in house fire

Staff Writer

Law enforcement is investigating a house fire Wednesday night that injured a Monarch Community man.

Firefighters pulled 28-year-old Harold “Brad” Gibson from his burning home on 1413 Lockhart Highway shortly after the blaze was discovered around 8:15 p.m. Gibson was transported to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center, where a relative said he is in critical condition.

Monarch Fire Chief Larry Robinson said the Union County Sheriff's Office and agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms are assisting Monarch in determining the cause of the blaze, which was thought to have started in a front room. Robinson said law enforcement was brought in because of some underlying circumstances and something that may have occurred before the fire occurred.

Robinson, who is also a sergeant with the Union Public Safety Department, was on his way home from work when he spotted the fire.

“There were some people across the road at Arthur State Bank just looking at it,” he said.

Robinson used his radio to contact 911.

He and fellow firefighters were told somebody might be inside the house. Robinson began fighting the fire from the outside while Deputy Chief J.D. McCarley, firefighter Chris West and Lt. Kevin Smith with the Southside Fire Department suited up to go in the house.

McCarley forced open a door and he, West and Smith began fighting the flames.

West said he told McCarley he could hear someone breathing in a back room.

“J.D. spun around with the light and said, ‘There he is,' West said.

Smith , McCarley and West carried Gibson out to Robinson and medics with Union County EMS, who had been standing by.

The City of Union, Southside and Philippi fire departments and the Union County Fire and Rescue Squad responded to assist Monarch in fighting the fire.

Man arrested

A Union man who allegedly didn't heed the directions of an officer directing traffic at the fire was arrested Wednesday night.

Fredrick Marion Crawford, 51, of 185 Bruce O. Wilson Road was charged with disobedience to an officer.

A report said Sgt. Russell Vinson with the sheriff's office was directing traffic on Lockhart Highway when Crawford pulled up and asked if he could go to the BP Station. Vinson advised Crawford three times to turn on Sims Avenue and Crawford refused. After the third time, Crawford bumped Vinson with his vehicle. Vinson went to the driver's side of the vehicle and advised Crawford he was under arrest. Crawford refused to get out of the vehicle. Vinson advised Crawford if he did not get out of the vehicle he would be pepper sprayed. Crawford refused and was sprayed and arrested. Crawford's face was cleaned and he was placed in Sgt. Dee Haney's vehicle to be taken to jail. Vinson asked Crawford while in Haney's presence why he hit him with the vehicle. Crawford said his foot slipped off the pedal.

Crawford was taken to the Wallace Thomson Hospital emergency room after he complained of chest pains.

Robbery

A Union woman told public safety officers she was robbed at her apartment building Wednesday.

The 58-year-old victim told Sgt. Larry Robinson she was walking down the stairs between the first and second floors of Fairforest Apartments on 221 East Main when two men approached her. One pushed the her head into the all and grabbed her change purse. The men then headed up the stairs. The men, who are black, were wearing black pants and white shirts. Both were around 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighed around 150 pounds.

Officers spoke with several tenants who said the two men had been seen walking around inside the lobby and stairs.

Signs vandalized

Someone has been shooting the road signs at the bridge on Means Road.

A South Carolina Department of Transportation employee told Deputy Randy Manus Thursday that the signs were replaced on Sept. 4 and already have new holes in them. The signs are worth $170.

Manus found empty rounds from a 30-06 and one unshot round, along with other evidence.

Thefts

On 900 Jeffries Farm Road, Jonesville, a man told Sgt. Dee Haney Wednesday that someone took his Craftsman upright air compressor from his carport. It is worth $300.

Also on Thursday, the owner of K.C. Mart on 439 North Duncan By-Pass told Haney that someone took a Mid Temp evaporator fan from beside his business. It is worth $5,000.

On 116 New St., a victim told Officer Robbie Vanderford with public safety that someone took her moped. The black moped missing several items, including plastic on one side, the muffler and mirror. It is worth $1,000.