Richland County man charged with burglaries of a church and local businesses

Richland County authorities charged a 44-year old-Richland County man with two counts of burglary but believe he is connected to a series of burglaries or attempted burglaries at local churches and businesses.

Norman Lyvell Alston was taken into custody Oct. 18 after deputies spotted him driving a pickup truck fitting the description of a vehicle used in several recent burglaries, Sheriff Leon Lott said in a news release.

When deputies ran the tags on the white 1982 Chevy C10 pickup Alston was driving, the tags didn’t match. When deputies tried to pull him over, he allegedly tried to flee, Lott said.

Alston alluded deputies for just over 4 miles but then “became stuck on by debris in the roadway after hitting several trees” and “was trapped inside (his truck) due to damage to the doors,” Lott said. Alston was taken into custody without further incident.

Authorities believe Alston is responsible for burglaries at a dental lab on Two Notch Road, Journey Methodist Church on Longreen Parkway, Modern Turf on Farrow Road, a refrigeration business on Monticello Road and the attempted burglary of the Haskell Heights Progressive Baptist Church on Townsend Street. Items stolen included a Kobalt Air Compressor, speakers, a trailer, and a John Deere riding mower.

The riding mower and other items were located at a Farrowoods Estate residence, Lott said.

Alston has been charged with failure to stop for blue lights and siren, expired vehicle license, use of license plate other than for vehicle which issued, possession of marijuana, attempted burglary, three counts of larceny, two counts of burglary, and failure to surrender driver’s license/registration.

He was being held at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center Friday night.

This story was originally published December 4, 2015 at 8:22 PM with the headline "Richland County man charged with burglaries of a church and local businesses."