Man Arrested for Restaurant Break-In

Lexington County Sheriff’s Department deputies over the weekend arrested an alleged illegal alien on a charge that he broke into a Sonic Drive-In on South Lake Drive near Lexington.

Lexington County Sheriff James Metts said deputies arrested Luis Gutierrez-Gomez, 31, of 229 Vernon Drive, Lexington, on a charge of second-degree burglary at about 1:15 a.m. on Saturday. Gutierrez-Gomez is being held on Saturday at the Lexington County Detention Center.

Specially trained correctional officers who enforce federal immigration laws at the Detention Center under the supervision of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) determined that Gutierrez-Gomez illegally entered the United States from Mexico, Metts said. 

The officers placed a detainer on Gutierrez-Gomez with ICE, pending further action by ICE.

At about 1:05 a.m. on Saturday, Sgt. Christian Smith responded to a burglar alarm at a Sonic Drive-In at 1857 South Lake Drive, Metts said. Smith found that a door was open at the rear of the restaurant, and then allegedly saw Gutierrez-Gomez standing in the doorway, with a bandanna covering the lower portion of his face. Gutierrez-Gomez went back in the restaurant and closed the door at the rear of the business.

Smith requested assistance from additional road patrol deputies as well as deputies with the Sheriff’s Department K-9 Unit, Metts said.

At about 1:15 a.m., Smith saw Gutierrez-Gomez open the door at the rear of the restaurant, Metts said. Smith gave Gutierrez-Gomez loud verbal commands to exit the restaurant, with his hands held high up in the air.

Gutierrez-Gomez exited the restaurant as two K-9 Unit deputies and their two K-9 police dogs approached the rear door at the restaurant, Metts said. Deputies arrested Gutierrez-Gomez without incident.    

Metts asked anyone with information about additional criminal activity involving Gutierrez-Gomez to call the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department at (803) 785-8230 or CrimeStoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.