Police report from Clarendon | Manning Live

by Melissa McCoy

SHOPLIFTING

Unauthorized entry after notification

UNATTENDED VEHICLE/RUNNING ENGINE (CHILD)

On July 1, officers were dispatched to Walmart at 2010 Paxville Highway to investigate a shoplifting in progress. The description of the subjects was two black females, one wearing a black tank top and black bike shorts. Upon arrival, an officer observed one of the women matching the description exit the store while carrying a Walmart shopping bag. Officers made contact with the woman and advised her that the second woman was still in the store. The second woman may have had a blue plastic bag with the possibly stolen items, which she then abandoned and went to the garden side checkout. Officers then made contact with that individual as well and escorted the two to the Asset Protection (AP) office. Officers then spoke with the AP officer, who stated that she personally observed the two women place the items in the plastic bag and continue to walk around the store. Then, leaving the items and placing the lid on the bag, they each took a few items into different registers and then left the store. The AP officer advised that she had enough evidence to press charges and planned to do so. Officers met with the two women who were being detained at the AP office. The women were then identified as Pa'Suna Hopkins, 26, of Sylvania, GA and Myesha McKine, 26, of Estill, SC. ​​Both individuals asked if they were being arrested and an officer told them both that it looked like they were being arrested for shoplifting. A few moments later, the AP officer came back to her office to hand over a printout of the receipt for the items that had been placed in the bag and to also fill out trespassing notices for both individuals. At this point McKine asked the AP officer if she was going to charge them with shoplifting or if she could somehow settle the matter by paying for the items. The AP responded, “I'm just giving you a trespassing ticket.” An officer again asked the AP officer if she was going to charge them with shoplifting or if the individuals would be released. The AP officer left the office and said, “That's up to you, not me.” Due to the lack of evidence at that point, an officer persistently asked the AP officer if she would press charges and was eventually advised that the AP did.

Both McKine and Hopkins were informed that they were under arrest for shoplifting. Hopkins was then informed that an officer would need to search her purse as part of a search in order to arrest her. During the search, he found $233 in cash, including money that had been returned to her for the items she had returned. This money was counted out in front of McKine and Hopkins. They asked officers what would happen to the children who had been left unattended in their vehicles in the parking lot. Officers then made contact with the children and determined that they were safe. Officers found that Hopkins' Georgia license plate had been suspended from her vehicle and requested the nearest tow truck. Hopkins contacted a friend of hers, identified as Lorenzo Ragin, and asked him to pick up the children. Ragin came and picked up the children, along with Hopkins' money and McKine's $317 in cash in her purse. McKine and Hopkins were then taken to the Clarendon County Detention Center. A check of Walmart records revealed that both women had previously received a written warning for trespassing at another Walmart, which covers multiple Walmart locations, on May 10, 2024.

THEFT – ALL OTHERS

On July 19, an officer from the Manning Police Department was dispatched to The Swimming Hole, located at 213 East Boyce Street, following a report of a stolen tractor. Upon arrival, the officer questioned an employee of The Swimming Hole. The plaintiff reported that upon arriving at work that morning, he discovered the green and yellow John Deere 40/31 tractor was missing. According to the plaintiff, the tractor had driven through the fence toward Durant Street. He stated that he last saw the tractor the previous day at approximately 5:15 p.m. when he finished his shift and that he left the keys in the tractor. The officer observed that a small portion of the fence on the east side had been cut to gain access to the property. The officer advised the plaintiff that a formal report would be filed. The officer advised the owner to provide any serial numbers on the tractor upon arrival that might assist in the investigation.