BCSO solves a robbery case

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, January 10, 2001

Sheriff Diane Harris said her office has completed a robbery investigation by identifying and apprehending two suspects, leading from an incident that occurred on November 2, 2000.

"We responded to a complaint on Montezuma Lane at about 6 p.m. on Nov. 2, for an incident that reportedly occurred on Hickory Street," Sheriff Harris said. "The victim complained of being taken at gunpoint, along with a 1993 Ford Crown Victoria, by two black males, while being held at gunpoint."

Sheriff Harris said that the victim was allegedly taken to Montezuma Lane, where he was ordered to strip his clothes off, still at gunpoint, and his car along with $200 in cash was stolen.

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"We immediately put out a bulletin over the radio for the Crown Victoria, with an estimated value of $10,000, and entered it into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) computer," said Chief Deputy Kenny Harden. "We also put the word out with field informatives, to let us know if the car was found."

"Some 20 hours later, at about 3 p.m. on Nov. 3, Harden received a call from an informant that the car in question was parked at the Bent Creek Apartments, on Perdue Place," said Sheriff Harris. "When we checked it out, the car was found, backed into a parking space, in front of the B' building.

"The caller said the car had been there since 10 p.m. the night prior," said Harden. "We had the vehicle towed to the County barn, where we processed it as part of the case investigation.

"We put a total of six photo

lineups together, and came up with two identified suspects-Leon Clemons, and William Lamar Burnett," said Harden.Harris said that warrants were obtained against both for two counts each of robbery first degree, and kidnapping, first degree. "As soon as we got the warrants, we entered them into NCIC," she said.

Harris said Clemons is in custody in another state. "Leon Clemons is in the State of Georgia, where he was picked up on warrants charging statutory rape, child molestation and obstruction of an officer. "We have a hold placed on him for the charges here."

Harris said that the second suspect remained at large until Tuesday morning. "We assisted the Greenville Police Department in apprehending Burnett this morning," Sheriff Harris said. "He was apprehended from the Carver Circle Apartments this morning."

"I cannot emphasize enough just how important it is to have the assistance of citizens in the community," she said. "Without it, these dangerous criminals could not be brought to justice."