Possible break in Marion and Mullins robbery cases

During Tuesday night's Marion City Council meeting, Police Chief Willie L. Smith reported that several young men were involved in an armed robbery at a Sav-Way Food Store on South Main Street on July 12 around 6 a.m.

“With the hard work of Lt. Farmer Blue and our officers, we have safely solved that case,” Smith said, adding that arrests have been made and more arrests are pending.

“The good thing about it is we also share our good fortune with the Mullins police department,” he said, adding that the incident is connected with an armed robbery that occurred at the Sav-Way store in Mullins on U.S. Highway 76.

According to an incident report, two masked men robbed the Marion store at gunpoint, taking $159 along with cigarettes and cigars.

The suspects fled through the front exit and ran behind a liquor store next door, the report said.

A K-9 unit called in to search for the suspects discovered that the men had a vehicle parked behind the liquor store and all that was found were a few cigars and a pair of tire marks on the ground, the report said.

Blue said a 16-year old juvenile and a 15-old year old juvenile were arrested Thursday and charged with armed robbery along with pointing and presenting a firearm. Blue added there were no injuries reported in the incident and the juveniles are being transported to the Department of Juvenile Justice in Columbia, but could possibly be charged as adults in the near future.

Blue also said that officers are seeking 17-year old Jamell Rashawn Hyman for armed robbery. Hyman was released on a $10,000 bond after being arrested and charged with robbing a fashion store along Main Street on May 15.

Mullins Police Chief Kenneth Davis confirmed that investigators arrested the same juveniles and charged them with an armed robbery that occurred June 24 at the Sav-Way Food Store on 406 West McIntyre Street.

Davis said two clerks and a few patrons were inside the store at the time when the men stole money and cigarettes.

The 15-year old is also charged with second degree burglary and grand larceny, stemming from an incident that occurred on Dixon Street on June 30, he said.

“Other arrests are expected and that investigation continues,” Davis said.

Mullins Police detectives are also searching for a suspect in an early Monday morning armed robbery at the Sav-Way Food Store.

The perpetrator was masked and brandished a handgun during the incident while threatening several patrons and employees, Davis said. No one was injured during the robbery and the suspect fled on foot.

“This is a very complicated case,” Davis said, adding that he can’t speculate if all of the robberies are connected because video evidence shows two suspects in the first incident and only one in the second robbery at the store.

"This has been a coordinated investigation between us, the City of Marion and Marion County Sheriff's Office," Davis said. "It's been a very successful venture and cooperation like that is what gets the job done," he said.