Local news in brief for Aug. 21

Wanted man is found in hiding

A 33-year-old Aiken man wanted by City and County law enforcement was found hiding in a Chesterfield Street home Thursday and taken into custody by special response teams from the Aiken County Sheriff's Office and Aiken Public Safety.

Warrants were served on Elijah A. Pontoon, of Pontoon Sapp Drive in Aiken, for assault with intent to commit first-degree criminal sexual conduct, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, failure to comply with police and driving under suspension more than fourth. He was also charged with failing to cooperate with officers during Thursday's arrest, said Lt. David Turno, a spokesperson for Aiken Public Safety.

Pontoon has been on Aiken County's most wanted list and the outstanding warrants list for the City and County.

He will be booked at the Aiken County detention center.

Crashes reported at I-20 marker 4

Two crashes were reported on I-20 Thursday on the eastbound and westbound sides at mile marker 4, officials said.

At presstime, there were no life-threatening injuries reported; however, there were reports that more than one vehicle had overturned during the crashes.

Deputies search for murder suspect

Aiken County Sheriff's Office deputies are searching for an 18-year-old wanted on allegations he and 17-year-old Akia Jordan shot and killed a 16-year-old last Wednesday.

The 16-year-old died after two gunmen opened fire outside a T&S Drive mobile home the evening of Aug. 12.

Deputies are searching for Maurice Lamont Council of Carriage Hill Place in Aiken.

He will be charged with murder, assault and battery with intent to kill and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.

The weekend after the murder, Jordan surrendered to authorities. He is charged with murder, assault and battery with intent to kill and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.

Police investigate sex assault claim

Aiken County Sheriff's Office deputies are investigating allegations made late Wednesday by a woman who claimed she had been sexually assaulted in Belvedere.

A woman in her 20s reportedly went to a home on Ridgefield Drive around 7:25 p.m. to call for help.

The woman told deputies she was walking in Belvedere when a red Chevy Suburban pulled up beside her. A white male exited the vehicle's passenger side and dragged her inside, where she said she was sexually assaulted, said Capt. Troy Elwell, an Aiken County Sheriff's Office spokesperson.

There were two white males in the vehicle, she told deputies.

The men reportedly drove the around for a period of time, and then she was allowed out of the vehicle, she said.

She was taken to the Medical College of Georgia for medical treatment.

Investigators were following leads on Thursday. No new information has been released by deputies.

Highway Patrol to seek DUI offenders

Expect to see more South Carolina Highway Patrol troopers and other law enforcement officers on the roads over the Labor Day holiday as the South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS) leads a crackdown on drivers under the influence, the state's leading cause of traffic-related deaths, according to a S.C. Highway Patrol written report released Thursday. Because of the proliferation of drunken driving in the state, SCDPS is teaming with state and local agencies to curb this violent crime. It is part of an enforcement and public education campaign called Sober or Slammer that runs Aug. 21 through the Labor Day holiday, the press release stated.

Police: Man found with moonshine

An Aiken man has been charged with possession of non-taxed liquor after Aiken Public Safety officers said they caught him on Wednesday morning with five one-gallon jugs of moonshine in the trunk of his vehicle.

In addition to the illegal alcohol charge, Shannon L. Busbee, 41, of Sandy Lane in Aiken, is charged with driving under suspension.

Officers were sent to a Chesterfield Street bank around 9:40 a.m. Wednesday after two suspicious persons were reportedly seen sitting in a vehicle in the parking lot.

When the police sergeant met up with the men, the vehicle attempted to pull away. A nearby officer then made the traffic stop, according to the police report.

Busbee was the driver, police said.

During a search of the vehicle, a drug detection dog found the illegal liquor, officials reported.