LCSD: Men Allegedly Tried to Steal … Steel

A pair of Gaston men are in jail, accused with attempting to steal $10,000 worth of steel beams from a vacant lumber mill on Ballington Court near West Columbia, the Lexington County Sheriff's Department said Wednesday.

Lexington County Sheriff James Metts said deputies arrested Jon Devin Hutchison, 19, of 409 Fallaw Road, and Steve Daniel Coleman, 31, of 409 Fallaw Road, on charges of grand larceny. Coleman and Hutchison were being held Wednesday at the Lexington County Detention Center awaiting bond hearings. 

According to deputies, at about 11:50 a.m. Tuesday, deputies responded to a call concerning an alleged larceny in process at the mill, located at 180 Ballington Court, Metts said. Witnesses provided deputies with detailed physical descriptions of two men whom the witnesses allegedly spotted attempting to steal steel from the vacant business.

At about 1:07 p.m., deputies who were patrolling the area for the suspects allegedly saw Hutchison walking in the 300 block of Glenn Road, Metts said.

Hutchison, who appeared to be physically exhausted, matched the physical description that witnesses provided for one of the two male suspects. Deputies detained Hutchison and subsequently arrested him, Metts said.

Deputies also found a red 1998 Dodge Durango sport-utility vehicle, which is registered to a woman who lives with Coleman and Hutchison, parked near the vacant lumber mill, Metts added.

A large trailer was attached to the vehicle, which allegedly contained several large steel beams, as well as an oxygen/acetylene torch that can be used to cut steel, Metts said. 

A deputy who was patrolling the area later saw Coleman walking along U.S. Highway 321 near Glenn Road, Metts added. Coleman, who also appeared to be physically exhausted, matched the physical description that witnesses provided, the sheriff said. Deputies detained Coleman and later arrested him, too.

Metts asked anyone with information concerning additional criminal activity involving Coleman or Hutchison to contact the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department at (803) 785-8230 or CrimeStoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC. Citizens also can provide information anonymously by accessing the Sheriff's Department's  Crime Tip link.