A Spartanburg teen-ager involved in crimes in Union County in the past and a Jonesville teen-ager accused of selling drugs were taken into custody after a traffic stop Sunday.

Solomon Maurice Gore, 18, of 293 Dogwood Club Road, was charged by the Union County Sheriff’s Office with unlawful carrying of a handgun and possession of a handgun by a person convicted of a violent crime.

Another passenger in the vehicle in which Gore was traveling, Kyle Gerard Gory, 19, of 410 Rogerstown Road, Jonesville, was charged with distribution of marijuana, distribution of marijuana within one-half mile of a school, distribution of a Schedule 4 narcotic and distribution of a Schedule 4 narcotic within one-half mile of a school. Gory is the 26th person arrested in “Operation Spring Clean” a joint illegal drug sweep by the sheriff’s office, the Union Public Safety Department and the Jonesville Police Department. A report said Gory sold marijuana and bills believed to be Klonopin to an undercover operative with the sheriff’s office on Lakeside Drive on March 5.

A report said deputies received information that Gore was in a 1999 Burgundy Cadillac Escalade and was in possession of a handgun. Public safety officers and deputies stopped the vehicle at the intersection of S.C. 215 and U.S. 176. The report said Gory, on whom the county had drug warrants, jumped out of the vehicle and ran. He was taken into custody by public safety officers after a foot chase. Deputies were given consent to search the vehicle by the driver, Eddie Gist. Under the back seat officers found a .380 handgun, for which Gore was charged.

In January, Gore pleaded guilty to assault of a high and aggravated nature and contributing to the delinquency of a minor and was given a two-year prison sentence, suspended to two years of probation, 80 hours of public service and he was ordered to pay $500 to the public defender’s fund.

Gore originally was charged with armed robbery on June 20, 2008, and was allowed to plead guilty to the lesser charge of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature. He and a co-defendant were accused of taking money, two cell phones and a knife from another teen-ager at Veterans Park.

The contributing to the delinquency of a minor charge was lodged against him in an unrelated case on Oct. 15, 2008.

Thefts

Thursday, a man staying at the Palmetto Inn on 1235 South Duncan By-Pass told Deputy Roxie Belue that someone took items while he was away from his room. They included a knife, a Trac Phone and charger, a beard trimmer, toothbrush and toothpaste and several food items. These are worth $60. The victim said he was the only person with a key.

On 1160 Lakeside Drive, a victim told Cpl. Scott Ruby Thursday that someone took four chrome wheels from underneath her home. All four rims had bald tires attached to them. The victim said the rims are worth $1,700.

Later that day, the victim called and said the rims were on a car on Walnut Street. Officers spoke with the person who owns the car on which the rims had been placed. He said he had purchased them from a man on Hart Street. The victim arrived and said they were definitely her stolen rims. All parties involved agreed to get bring receipts to the sheriff’s office. The matter is under investigation.

Man charged

in theft of bikes

Lannie Ray Birdsong, 33, of 101 C St., Jonesville, was charged Thursday by the Union County Sheriff’s Office with grand larceny and third-degree burglary.

On 1088 Gaffney Highway, Jonesville, at Allied Industries, it was reported to Lt. Terry Humphries that between Nov. 20 and Dec. 10 of 2008 someone cut the fence at the back of the plant, entered the building and took a Yamaha dirt bike and a Honda dirt bike, each worth $2,000. The victim said at the time he called Jonesville Police and reported the incident, now knowing the business was not in their jurisdiction.

Later, the victim received information that a man was riding one of the stolen bikes. The man said Birdsong, a relative, had given him the bike and had traded the other bike for two shotguns.

Both bikes were recovered and the guns were returned to their original owner.

It was learned that Birdsong was living in North Carolina. Later, he left Humphries a message saying he had taken the bikes and would return to Union and turn himself in at the sheriff’s office.

House shot

Friday around 1 a.m., a man on 232 Philippi Church Road told Cpl. Randy Manus he heard several gunshots and one of the bullets struck his residence. Deputies found the bullet hole and found the bullet inside a closet. The victim said he heard a vehicle pass his residence around the time the shots were fired. Damage was estimated at $300.