Midlands elementary school ‘secured’ following suspicious vehicle sighting
An Irmo elementary school was briefly “secured” Friday morning after a school resource officer approached a suspicious vehicle on campus and two of its occupants fled on foot, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department announced.
The incident, which occurred around 9:15 a.m. at H.E. Corley Elementary School, resulted in the school being ordered secured for just under two hours to protect all students, according to the department’s statement. H.E. Corley, located on Chadford Road, is part of Lexington-Richland School District 5.
Authorities lifted the restrictions around 11:20 a.m., after Irmo police spotted the persons of interest a safe distance from the school, the statement said. Despite the sighting, however, the two men who ran from the scene had not been located as of 2 p.m., the sheriff’s department said.
Two other occupants of the vehicle who did not flee were taken into custody, according to the sheriff’s statement.
One of the detainees, Javon Quattlebaum, 22, was charged with possession of marijuana, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, giving false information to law enforcement, disturbing the school and trespass after notification/refusal to leave, the sheriff’s department said.
The other detained person, a juvenile, was released to their parents without charges.
The incident occurred after a school resource officer noticed the suspicious vehicle near a play area on campus, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department said.
Upon smelling the odor of marijuana wafting from the vehicle, the officer asked the driver and other occupants to get out. Two of the occupants complied and stayed, but the other two took off running, the sheriff’s department said.
The Richland County Sheriff’s Department said it does not believe the two remaining suspects are a threat to the community, but does ask that anyone with information pertaining to the situation call 911 or phone the department at 1(800)576-3000.
This story was originally published December 20, 2024 at 2:54 PM.