Manhunt suspect in custody

By: David L. Green/The Weekly Observer | SCNow
Published: December 12, 2007

HEMINGWAY — A suspect was taken into custody Sunday in Williamsburg County following a manhunt earlier Dec. 9. Police Chief Bryan Todd said that Eric Dwan Dozier 32, of Georgetown was spotted at a club in the Donnelly community just outside the Hemingway town limit, with one handcuff on, and he was apprehended without incident by Chief Todd, Hemingway Officer Bert Powell and deputies from Williamsburg County.

Law enforcement officers from several different agencies had conducted a manhunt in and around Hemingway Sunday afternoon.

According to Hemingway Police Chief Bryan Todd the suspect pulled into Youngs Convenience Store on East Broad Street and prepaid for $20 in gas about 10:50 Sunday morning, but was unable to open the gas filler door on the gray Mercedes Kompressor 230 he was driving.

This aroused the suspicion of the cashier at Youngs, and she reported it to the assistant manager Nicki Cribb, who called 911.

Officer Robby Stone arrived at the store and did a check of the car’s tags, which indicated that the car had been reported stolen out of Georgetown County.

When Stone tried to arrest the driver, a struggle took place after the officer had placed one cuff on the suspect. The suspect struck Stone a severe blow in the wrist.

According to Todd the suspect was able to grab the officer’s wrist as he tried to tase the suspect. The taser hit officer Stone in the left arm. The suspect then left the gas station and fled to the rear. Assistant Manager Cribb gave chase but gave off when the suspect entered an area a swampy woods.

The cashier then called 911 again for Officer Stone, who was transported to a Lake City hospital, where he was x-rayed for a possible broken wrist and later released when it was confirmed that it was only a sprain. Other police agencies, including the South Carolina Highway Patrol, Johnsonville Police Department, and the Williamsburg Sheriff’s Department, quickly arrived to set up a perimeter around the wooded area.

The suspect is described as a black male, about 5’ 8” tall and heavy set, about 230 - 245 pounds and in his twenties. He was wearing oversized blue jeans that he had to hold up while running. He also had a long striped shirt hanging over the pants, with tan, and gray or blue colors, and a baseball cap.

According to Todd, The Georgetown County Sheriff’s K-9 team Captain Wayne Owens volunteered to assist with a tracking bloodhound, but after sweeping the wooded area called off the hunt Sunday afternoon.

Todd said the car had been reported stolen from a Georgetown home by a lady who had been shopping and had stopped momentarily at the home to deliver some items.

He said Dozier had confessed to the theft, saying he was “...tired of walking.”

The suspect was apprehended at a club at about 8:15 p.m. with one handcuff still on his wrist.

Todd expressed gratitude to the club management who made certain that Hemingway police were notified.

Manhunt suspect in custody

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