On Jan. 13, the Reporting Officer (R/O) responded to a call regarding a subject who was handing out fliers and becoming belligerent with people who would not take them. The R/O searched the campus for this individual, and eventually spotted a subject matching his description heading towards the center of campus.
The R/O attempted to make contact with the individual, who then ran away from the R/O into a bookstore. The R/O then followed him in and was advised by the manager that the subject had run out of the back door of the business into the alley.
After searching the alley, the R/O returned to the store and spoke with the manager, who stated that the individual was a frequent customer and that his vehicle was still parked in the front of the business. The R/O then notified Sgt. Reid, who advised that it may have been an individual he had dealt with previously.
Sgt. Reid advised that on Jan. 8 he responded to an individual matching the subject’s description, who was carrying a sign and stopping cars in line for COVID testing and becoming belligerent when people would not speak with him. Sgt. Reid advised that he warned the individual to leave, and that he would not be allowed on Winthrop property without permission. After learning this information, Chief Yearta arrived on scene to assist the R/O.
The R/O waited and observed the vehicle for a time, eventually witnessing the subject return to his vehicle to leave. The subject travelled the wrong way down a one way alley and the R/O initiated a traffic stop. The subject vehicle yielded and the R/O made contact with and detained the subject. Sgt. Reid was able to identify the subject as the same individual from the prior incident. The subject was arrested, charged with Trespassing and taken to the Rock Hill City Jail to be booked.
