Tip leads to man who escaped arrest

Tutt

Law enforcement officers tracked a fugitive who had escaped arrest last week during a manhunt to a Jackson home where he was arrested Monday for his alleged involvement in a kidnapping and armed robbery in Florence and Marlboro counties.

Marion Tutt Jr., 19, of Green Road in Aiken, faces charges of kidnapping, conspiracy, possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime and armed robbery.

He was detained around 12:45 p.m. Monday.

Capt. Troy Elwell with the Aiken County Sheriff's Office said officers received a tip that led them directly to Tutt.

Florence Police Department had issued warrants for Tutt and Keith Williams, 22, of Aiken, on allegations that they carjacked a man in Florence on Feb. 3.

Last week, Aiken County authorities were notified that the men were in Aiken, and they took Williams into custody, but Tutt escaped arrest, Elwell said.

One man who had been connected to the incident had already been detained.

James E. Murphy II, 19, of Cobblestone Street in Florence, has been arrested for a kidnapping that began when a man was carjacked in Florence at gunpoint.

According to Elwell, the men involved were both armed with weapons when they ordered the victim to get into the back seat and kidnapped him.

They reportedly robbed the man and later released him. The victim was reportedly shot at when he was released.

Deputies in Marlboro County later spotted the stolen car and made a traffic stop. Two individuals exited the car and confronted the deputies at gunpoint. Marlboro County Sheriff's Office deputies reportedly fired at the suspects.

The men were able to escape, but Murphy was arrested, officials said.

Elwell said Tutt is a danger to the community, and multiple agencies were involved in the investigation and apprehension.

Karen Daily, a graduate of USC, has been the crime reporter at the Aiken Standard for seven years. She has reported here since 2001.