May 24, 2013

Court rules fired Upstate hospital worker entitled unemployment benefits

A former Upstate worker who refused to take a required flu shot is entitled to receive unemployment benefits according to a state appeals court ruling.

The South Carolina Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday that Pamela Crowe’s refusal to get a flu shot was reasonable under her circumstances. The court says her 2010 firing from AnMed Health in Anderson entitled her to collect unemployment. Crowe’s 19-year-old daughter Nicole became ill after a flu shot in 2001. Her doctor says the multiple sclerosis she developed could have been related to the shot. Nicole died in 2007 from complications related to medication she took for her condition.

Crowe’s physician told her there could be a genetic reason for the rare flu shot reaction. Crowe worked as a benefits coordinator, a position that did not require direct contact with a patient.

Orangeburg deputies arrest bounty hunters for taking wanted suspect

Two out-of-state bounty hunters got the man they were looking for in Orangeburg County on Tuesday, but the sheriff’s deputies got the bounty hunters, as well.

Orangeburg County Sheriff Leroy Ravenell says, in all, four people were arrested— including the bounty hunters now charged with kidnapping. Deputies say the two were in Eutawville looking for David Smith, Sr who is wanted in Maryland. Without notifying law enforcement, Corey Newkirk of Hendrum, Minnesota and Shannon Samuel of North East, Maryland went to Smith’s residence, handcuffed him and removed him from the home along with his 7-year-old son.

Deputies arrived on the scene (the office’s release does not explain who called them) and determined the arrest warrant for Smith was valid. He remains under arrest. The  mother of the 7-year-old was also arrested for providing police false information about her identity.

Meanwhile, Newkirk and Samuel were each charged with two counts of kidnapping and Samuel was charged with a possession of a weapon during a violent crime.

Suspects arrested in Beech Island barber shop killing

Two Georgia men are awaiting extradition to South Carolina in connection with a deadly barber shop robbery Saturday in Beech Island.

Demarcus Booker and Raphael Wooden, both of Augusta, were arrested on warrants for murder and armed robbery.

Aiken County Sheriff’s deputies say 32-year-old Zann Worrell, Jr., of North Augusta was working at Island Cuts barber shop in Beech Island Saturday afternoon when he was shot several times after two gunmen entered the business. An incident report states Worrell was shot while fighting the robbers. He later died at a nearby hospital.

Deputies said a witness followed the pair’s vehicle into Richmond County, Georgia, while updating emergency dispatchers of their location and license plate number. Richmond County deputies caught up with them and arrested Booker and Wooden. Both men are awaiting extradition to South Carolina to face charges.

Man threatens Spartanburg reporter with Michael Jackson song

A former track & field assistant coach at the University of South Carolina-Upstate was arrested for threatening a reporter, according to a warrant from the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office.

31-year-old Joseph Colton Hodge is accused of sending an email to a Spartanburg Herald-Journal reporter with a threatening video attached. Spartanburg County Sheriff’s deputies say the video shows Hodge singing the Michael Jackson song “Smooth Criminal.”

In the Jackson song, the singer references harm coming to a woman named “Annie.” However, in the video Hodge replaces that name with the reporter’s. The video also shows the reporter’s picture. According to an incident report, a deputy was contacted by the newspaper’s editor Michael Smith about the email. That deputy viewed the video and determined that it constituted a threat.

Hodge was a volunteer assistant track coach at USC-Upstate from 2008 to 2012. He is charged with 2nd-degree harassment.

South Carolina Radio Network has decided not to name the reporter since they are considered a victim in this case. In fact, it’s not clear why Hodge targeted the newspaper, although he has previously been arrested for releasing other threatening videos towards USC-Upstate athletic director Mike Hall.

Walterboro’s top cop relieved of his duties

Walterboro’s public safety chief of nine years has been relieved of his duties, but city officials are not explaining why.

Former Walterboro Director of Public Safety Otis Rhodes (Courtesy: City of Walterboro)

Former Walterboro Director of Public Safety Otis Rhodes (Courtesy: City of Walterboro)

Chief Otis Rhodes was let go Friday after 9 years as public safety chief and 21 years of working for the city of Walterboro. City Manager Jeff Lord released a statement praising and thanking Rhodes for his service, but went on to say the department wanted to do more and that it was time for a change in leadership.

“We are grateful to Otis for his contributions, but the time has come for someone else to continue the progress that has been made and to pave the way for even more in the future,” Lord wrote, ”There’s work to be done, and I am confident the City and its citizens will be best served by new leadership in the Public Safety Department.’

Rhodes’s departure is effective immediately.

Maj. Ken Dasen— currently the assistant public safety director— will now serve as acting director of Walterboro’s Public Safety Department until a replacement is found.

The Charleston Post & Courier first reported Rhodes’s firing Friday.

Sheree Bernardi of Charleston affiliate WTMA filed this report