Gang member arrested after yearlong effort
Columbia police arrested a gang member as part of a gang activity investigation, The State reported.
According to a press release, Marvin Nigel McCoy, 23, is out on a $30,000 bond after being charged with armed robbery and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. McCoy is currently under house arrest and is under a judge’s order to wear a GPS monitoring device.
McCoy was arrested after an armed robbery investigation spanning a year and involving multiple police agencies, the release stated. McCoy is accused of being involved in an armed robbery last summer, at a bank on the 300 block of Bush River Road. McCoy has been accused, along with codefendants Shawn Bethea, 23, and Kerry Taylor, 19, of stealing several thousand dollars.
The release said McCoy and additional gang members including Bethea, Taylor and Jeffery Curry, 22, have been incriminated by the state grand jury. The cases are being prosecuted by the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office.
Last 300 Blockbuster rental stores to close
According to The State, Dish Network Corp. is closing down the 300 remaining Blockbuster locations in the United States, three of which are located in the Midlands area. Blockbuster’s DVD-by-mail service is also ceasing next month.
About 2,800 people who work in Blockbuster’s stores and DVD distribution centers will lose their jobs.
Blockbuster closed thousands of stores but still ended up in bankruptcy court three years ago. Dish Network purchased Blockbuster to attempt to challenge Netflix and make a profit but failed.
The three Midlands Blockbuster stores are:
—7249 St. Andrews Road in the Irmo area, closing Dec. 15.
—2301 Augusta Road, West Columbia, closing Dec. 15.
—4450 Rosewood Drive, Columbia, exact closing date not set, but it will close some time in the next two months.
4 teens accused of stealing pit bull puppies
Four teenagers have been accused of stealing seven pit bull puppies in Rock Hill on Monday, The State reported.
Two witnesses who live next door to the victim said several people were around the house while the victim’s dogs were loose, according to a Rock Hill Police report. The victim, a 22-year-old-man, said four men were at his house, one wearing camouflage pants, two others in dark clothing and the fourth pretending to speak with someone at the house, but no one was home.
According to the report, one of the suspects was found by police on Cedar Grove Lane, and two others were revealed to be students at Rock Hill High. Those students were not present at school Monday when the police went to find them.
Police have not located the stolen puppies, which according to the victim are worth about $2,100. The suspects are described as teens, ranging from age 16 to 19. No charges have been filed.