Forest Acres restaurants robbed by gunmen

Thugs robbed two popular Forest Acres restaurants at closing time over the weekend, and city police are warning local businesses to be careful.

"We're asking people when they close to take precautions before they send people out or even when they empty the garbage," said Forest Acres Police Chief Gene Sealy.

Friday night, a robber wearing a bandanna over his face brandishing a pistol entered Zoe's Kitchen on Forest Drive and demanded money. He then fled on foot.

Sunday around 5 p.m., three men wearing bandanna and hoodies forced their way inside Groucho's on Forest Drive and made the manager give them money from the cash register.

No one was injured in either robbery.

At this point, investigators have no evidence to link the two crimes.

Sealy said his 28-officer department will be glad to send a patrol car to escort employees to their cars if circumstances warrant.

Anyone with information on these cases can call Crimestoppers at (888) RIME-SC Tips resulting in arrest and prosecution qualify for rewards.

- John Monk

Man missing off boat at Folly Beach marina

FOLLY BEACH - Rescuers were using dive teams, rescue boats, an underwater camera and a helicopter Monday to search around a Folly Beach marina for a man last seen early Sunday.

The missing man was described as an elderly man by Folly Beach Public Safety Chief Terry Boatwright. The man's identity was not released.

The man was staying on a 30-foot sloop moored at Sunset Cay Marina, Boatwright said.

"He has not been seen since late Saturday night or early Sunday morning," he said. "There is no indication of foul play."

All of the missing man's personal effects were still on the boat.

Rescuers from the Charleston County Rescue Squad and the Charleston County Sheriff's Office assisted Folly Beach Public Safety officers in the search, which began around 12:45 p.m. Monday and was still underway after 5 p.m.

Divers were searching in the vicinity of the boat as a helicopter flew up and down the Folly River.

- The (Charleston) Post and Courier

Ambulance service to pay for unneeded trips

Regional Ambulance Service Inc. of West Columbia, has agreed to pay the government $379,400 to settle allegations that it submitted claims to Medicaid and Medicare for hundreds of ambulance transports not medically justified, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced Monday.

Regional's transports at issue were not for emergencies but regularly scheduled visits to physicians' offices and other treatments, officials said.

According to investigators, the majority of these patients transported by Regional were being taken to dialysis three times a week. The government alleged Regional knew the patients could be transported safely by private automobile and did not require an ambulance.

Medicare and Medicaid typically paid Regional more than $100, each way, for each transport. A single patient being transported to scheduled dialysis treatments would cost Medicare and Medicaid more than $45,000 a year for the unnecessary ambulance trips.

The investigation was prompted by a whistleblower action brought by a former emergency medical technician of Regional Ambulance Service.

Because the government intervened and settled the case, the whistleblower will receive about $68,292 of the settlement amount. Additionally, the defendant will pay $70,000 to the whistleblower's attorneys for their fees.

- Staff reports

Naked child at motel leads to neglect charge

A father was charged with child neglect after authorities found a 3-year-old child naked and wandering the halls of the Rock Hill Super 8 motel, police say.

The 30-year-old Cherry Grove dad was staying at the Riverview Road motel with the child and his mother, the Rock Hill police report said.

A hotel clerk told police she found the boy walking down the hall with no clothes on around 4 p.m. Friday, the report said. That same boy was walking down the halls unattended the day before.

The father told police they both had fallen asleep and that the boy must have got up before him, the report said. The father also said he put the bar lock on the door, but the child must have pushed a chair to the door to release that lock.

The father was charged with unlawful neglect of a child, the report said.

- The (Rock Hill) Herald