SC

Jim Crawford Running For Lexington Sheriff As Independent

FIRST OF SEVERAL LIKELY CANDIDATES STEPS FORWARD By FITSNEWS || As the latest courtroom drama swirls around disgraced former Lexington County, S.C. sheriff James Metts, the first of several likely candidates has stepped forward in the race to replace him. Jim Crawford – a former Lexington County sheriff’s deputy –…

FIRST OF SEVERAL LIKELY CANDIDATES STEPS FORWARD

By FITSNEWS || As the latest courtroom drama swirls around disgraced former Lexington County, S.C. sheriff James Metts, the first of several likely candidates has stepped forward in the race to replace him.

Jim Crawford – a former Lexington County sheriff’s deputy – announced his intention to campaign for the office vacated by Metts earlier this month.  Metts had been Lexington County’s sheriff for 42 years when he resigned prior to entering an aborted plea deal on allegations that he harbored illegal aliens.

What makes Crawford’s announcement interesting?  He’s not running as a “Republican.”

“At this juncture … I am running as an independent because Lexington County deserves a candidate that will do what is best for the county and citizens without being beholden to one political party,” Crawford said.  “All my opponents for sheriff will say we need a law enforcement leader and not a politician, but I am taking that responsibility directly by taking politics out of the equation and putting it in the hands of the people.”

Crawford retired from the Lexington County sheriff’s office in 2012 after 24 years with the department.  According to him, he was not a part of Metts’ shady dealings.

“I did nothing wrong ever, and I was one of the few people who begged Jimmy Metts to disassociate himself with some people that were going to cause him problems,” Crawford wrote in a recent email to interim sheriff Lewis McCarty obtained by FITS.   “I was the one that told him a YEAR before this mess broke out to evaluate the ‘who’ and the ‘what’ was causing his problems from the DOJ.”

Interesting …

Filing for the special election to fill Metts’ office begins this week.  We’ll be sure to let you know who else is running …

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64 comments

anonymous December 30, 2014 at 9:52 am

Crawford would be a breath of fresh air in the Lexington County cesspool of politics. Crawford was beat down by the Lexington political cabal when he caught Jean Toal lying about hitting Mrs. Preacher’s car at the airport a few years ago. He refused to re-write his reports to cover Toal. She got away with it – again – in the end.

Run, Jim, Run!

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rdj December 30, 2014 at 12:56 pm

Ill give you an idea how Jay Koon does business. I was given a speeding ticket behind the Ford dealership. So I called Danny Frazier at 600-3815 to complain about a speed trap in no-mans land when a yellow light in Lexington only means dont be the last one caught. Danny did what Danny did and told me he would take care of it. So I decided I would let my voice be heard. So I called someone I have known all my life to discuss it …. Jay Koon … he flew off the handle said I was busting his balls. Asked me “do you know who Dannny calls to get these things taken care of? Me”
Well next thing i know I get a call from Danny saying now your gonna pay the ticket.
I talked to a friend of mine whose a judge and he said what they both did was against the law. I wrote Jay a letter saying all I was doing is trying to stay involved in my community. He wouldnt take my calls. Outstanding guy. Just like the ones that wanna do away with public relations because it’s … none of our business.

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Squishy123 December 30, 2014 at 1:06 pm

Sounds to me that you’re no better than fucking Danny Frazier. Were you speeding? If so, then why the fuck did you feel the need to start making calls so you could get it “fixed”? And your first call was to Danny Frazier, who should be sitting in prison for the shit he’s pulled over the years.

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rdj December 30, 2014 at 1:12 pm

Never asked him to fix it. Just stated my complaint. If I had been asked whether I deserved the ticket or not the answer would have been yes. My complaint was why speed trap when blatant problems right on main street. Kinda like when your going down the highway and people are blowing your doors off and you wonder where the highway patrol is. I was actually happy to pay the ticket in return for being able to speak my mind. Sorry you think im as bad as Frazier but you are wrong.

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Squishy123 December 30, 2014 at 1:56 pm

Speed limits, do you know what they’re there for? When I’ve gotten a speeding ticket, the last thing on my mind was to call someone who has pull to take care of it, you contacted two different people. If you can do the job better, maybe you should run.

rdj December 30, 2014 at 2:09 pm

You must not have lived and worked in Lexington all your life and had the joy of dealing with all the problems the exceedingly difficult traffic has become. The day I made the calls I was angry at being pulled over doing 45 in a 35 speed trap area. So I did the only thing I could do. Made my voice heard to who I knew. Believe me when I tell you that the law I broke that morning pales in comparison to what I witness daily. I had hoped that by bringing it to someones attention things could get better. My frustration certainly played a part. But the fix and fixers are more of a problem than I. And I believe that Frazier wasnt capable of “fixing” tickets all on his own which you yourself are saying is the dirty sin here.

Squishy123 December 30, 2014 at 2:27 pm

I’ve lived here for the past 12 years. 10 mph over and you’re upset because you were caught, traffic in that area must not have been too bad. Speed traps are set up where there tends to be a problem with speeding. As you found out, complaining resorted in absolutely nothing happening. Frazier would have been able to fix your ticket if you were able to do something in exchange for him… like get him a bucket of chicken or a lap dance.

rdj December 30, 2014 at 2:42 pm

Hate to break it to you buddy but it wasnt the first time he had helped me and just for the record he never asked anything in return. However, my phone call to Koon was the mistake I made. He made sure that my disappointment in the police departments decision to set up a speed trap and im not gonna argue with you whether it was or wasn’t. My problem was there were bigger problems to address. Most people would think the unpopulated area is a 45 mph zone. But that is not the problem here. The problem is Koon agreed to shuffle the ticket to the trash but once I called to ask why not focus on some bigger problems I was reminded who he was and told point blank that these fixes are done specifically by Koon himself and because I opened my mouth that the fix was no longer in effect. So lesson is support our bullshit and your good. Complain and your fucked. Obviously I didnt learn anything.

Squishy123 December 30, 2014 at 2:55 pm

As I’ve found out, “welcome to SC, if you don’t like it leave”. Which are exactly my intentions when I retire.

rdj December 30, 2014 at 3:04 pm

I hate to hear that …. my family can be traced back 200 years maybe you should stay and get involved instead of leaving. Thats what we need. Unfortunately our politicians dont think so.

Squishy123 December 30, 2014 at 6:15 pm

In my time here, I’ve found very little that would even make me consider staying. I’ve lived in a 6-7 states and this by far is the most fucked up state I’ve ever lived in. There are too many other great places to live to deal with this place.

rdj December 30, 2014 at 6:23 pm

Again … I hate to hear that. My experience has proven to me that there are alot of good people moving here. And from a business stand point I would rarher do business with anyone other than most locals. For some reason they act like you owe them something. But …. I think we seem to remember the bad apples … cause I can certainly tell you most people are fairly decent and fair.

rdj December 30, 2014 at 1:17 pm

But the more I think about it Jay koon is …

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Wendy December 30, 2014 at 6:46 pm

He’s no different from the others who had their tickets fixed. Is it wrong? Yes. You would have done it, so save us from your Holier then I attitude. Calm down. Frazier made his network by paying favors forward and I’m confident the Chief AND Asst. Chief were aware of it. Frazier unarrested his daughter several years ago for public drunk. And “they” knew it. Hopefully the feds will get Danny to name the cops dropping tickets.

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Squishy123 December 30, 2014 at 7:07 pm

I’ve had two speeding tickets in my life, neither time did I think, “who can I call”. I was guilty, I paid my fine and moved on.

Wendy December 30, 2014 at 7:31 pm

Thats admirable of you. Something not instilled in our youth today; responsibility. I commend you for it.

rdj December 30, 2014 at 8:10 pm

Responsibility is admitting you laid down with a dog and he gave you fleas … I don’t like fleas. My point is if Jay Koon was in on the ticket fix with someone as unimportant as me. It makes me take pause that we should be considering him as a replacement for Metts.

rdj December 30, 2014 at 8:04 pm

Trust me when I tell you I have been responsible to my duty as a citizen.

rdj December 30, 2014 at 8:01 pm

I agree with you Wendy … at the time I didnt think much of it … we were business associates. After Koon got upset with me it dawned on me.
As God as my witness even told Frazier i was glad it went down the way it did so I didnt have to feel like I owed him anything.

Midnight run December 30, 2014 at 9:27 pm

Frazier and his infamous group often frequented Lexington’s “watering holes” together. Frazier bragged insistently about his connections with Mayor Halfacre, Mayor Owens, Bob Peeler, Sheriff Metts, SLED #2 Tim James, Chief Tindle, Sen. Knotts, Sen. Cromer and others. Frazier also bragged about getting tickets fixed for many with all of these connections.

Frazier was a real operator and loved his connections. He bragged about their salacious women and parties, “Danny’s Ho’s”. He and Peeler were eventually caught in affairs and he was taped discussing their escapades and illegal activities.

I’m still waiting to see what happens to the investigations.

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rdj December 30, 2014 at 9:32 pm

Danny fixed tickets for anyone who asked cheap, easy way to get a vote.
Believe me when I tell you I am as unimportant person as they come and he did it for me multiple times.

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Blue Light Flashing December 31, 2014 at 10:29 am

Connect the dots Jean Hoefer Toal…Knotts…Bob Peeler………Metts
. .
. .
Bob Peeler’s paramour Donna Hoefer…….Harvey Peeler… Frazier
. .
. .
Jean Hoefer Toal…….. ………………….. Bob Peeler……..
.
.
Mayor Halfacre….Mayor Owens
.
.
Tim James…Dennis Tindle….Metts…Amodio
Halfacre and Frazier give the South Carolina Highway Patrol offices in the Lexington Town Hall.
Frazier’s infamous tape “I have Law Enforcement on lock down”.
Bribes, Affidavit of drugs, sex Parties, Illegal gambling, adultery, lies, immoral and illegal activities! It all ties together.

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You Know My Name December 30, 2014 at 10:28 am

Just say “NO” to Jim Crawford. Jim is buddies with seriously ethically challenged gormer CPD Chief and Lott Family member, Ruben Santiago. Word on the street has it that Jim has promised Santiago a position of prominence if he is elected as Sheriff.

Given the shit Metts has put LexCo through for the last few decades, don’t we deserve something better, rather than the same or worse?

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Goober December 30, 2014 at 10:37 am

You are correct. What Lexington County needs is a breath of fresh air. How was it that he retired after 24 years? The minimum years of service is 25. Did he quit or was he forced to “retire”?

And….. Jim doesn’t have a chance. The new sheriff was handpicked by the establishment already…..Jay Koon. Why do you think he was “loaned” to the sheriff’s office? Exposure. I wonder who he is related too?

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justme December 30, 2014 at 11:57 am

I am not sure Jay Koon is a breath of fresh air. He is a Lexington insider. We need someone who is not loyal to anyone in the county. Leaning toward Justin Britt for that fact alone. But I know Dennis “I work 20 hours a week” Tyndall is not getting my vote.

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Goober December 30, 2014 at 6:02 pm

Oh belive me there was sarcasm in my statement. Jay Koon would be the same breath of toxic air as with Frazier. I hear Koon is politically connected. That’s why he was loaned to the county- Think about it. And for Britt….. He’s a perfect image of his idol Lott. If Britt was elected sheriff that would mean Lott would be running both Lexington and Richland Counties. I heard Britt left Richland to work for SLED. He left and went back to Richland….. Why?

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justme December 30, 2014 at 7:32 pm

I am not sure why he left sled but if you want to know call him. I have had some questions and called him up he answered everytime. As far as Lott is concerned I think he has done a pretty good job running Richland county. The city of Columbia is the issue over there.

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Lott Crime Family December 31, 2014 at 3:59 pm

LMAO! Take off the blinders and look around. Leon has only done a good job if you happen to be him, Randy Scott, Dan Johnson, or other highly place member of the Lott Family or like benificiary of their numerous and frequent misdeeds.

King Leon December 30, 2014 at 9:44 pm

Leon is setting up his little Kingdom all around Richland County and only a blind fool would be unable to see that. He got his stooge/asshole buddy Hollywood Jim set up as Chief Traffic Officer in Kershaw County. He got a former deputy installed as LexCo Coroner in yet another election between no choice and no choice. One of his former deputies was elected Sheriff by the blind fools in Fairfield County. Britt is yet another of Leon’s chess men geared toward giving Leon control of Midlands counties that border Richland. Crawford may be a backup plan in that he has stated that Ruben “Black Ops” Santiago of CPD ( an agency Leon wants desperately to have under his thumb) will have a position of power and prominence if Jim becomes Sheriff.

It looks as though even with many potential candidates running, the citizens of LexCo will once again be faced with a “choice” between electing turds or pieces of shit.

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anonymous January 1, 2015 at 10:04 am

Justin Britt nor his family are from around here. They are not involved in the good Ole boy system. And just because you work for someone does not make you a bad person. I personally know him and his family. And he is a man of great murals and integrity. If you have questions show up tomorrow and ask him. He’s got an open forum at 1 pm at the elections committee.

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Intheknow January 5, 2015 at 4:53 pm

This must be Matt Edwards or one of his delusional friends.

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justme December 30, 2014 at 11:58 am

Or who he has been involved with. Who ask that he be loaned to the sheriff?

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JimBob December 30, 2014 at 11:26 am

His statement sounds very noble. However, the bottom line is that he knows he could not win a Republican primary, so he decides to run as an independent. Seems a little self serving to me.

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nitrat December 30, 2014 at 11:47 am

“I did nothing wrong ever, and I was one of the few people who begged Jimmy Metts to disassociate himself with some people that were going to cause him problems,” Crawford wrote in a recent email to interim sheriff Lewis McCarty obtained by FITS. “I was the one that told him a YEAR before this mess broke out to evaluate the ‘who’ and the ‘what’ was causing his problems from the DOJ.”

If he was warning Metts who the bad people were and what they were doing to, did he report these crimes to the DOJ or look the other way?

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Justme December 30, 2014 at 11:53 am

I am for anybody but Tyndall.

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Scooter December 30, 2014 at 11:43 pm

Tyndall is the last man that we need.

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neighbory December 31, 2014 at 11:02 am

Isn’t he one of Hazel’s ex-husbands?

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Squishy123 December 30, 2014 at 1:01 pm

Why do any of the Sheriff candidates run under a political party? It’s like when we see Clerk of Court candidates run under a party… who the fuck cares, it’s not a political position, it’s a job.

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EREY December 30, 2014 at 2:06 pm

Talk about insiders! This race is full of it. Don’t be fooled that Justin Britt isn’t one of them. He is being funded and supported by the shady cabal of homebuilders, trash disposal people and others who brought you a drunk county council puppet, tax increases and others who serve their own interests. Koon is nothing but a Frazier-Metts crony. Crawford cannot say he isn’t an insider. He’s as “in” as they come. This kook knows Metts is breaking the law a YEAR before Metts gets caught and doesn’t say anything to the feds or others??? Sheesh. . .And Tyndall??? You must be kidding. He brings so much baggage to the race he needs a dolly. Just ask that ex-wife of his who is crony of ex-mayor Halfwit and Frazier. He’s also buddy of Timmy James. Hell, all these clowns are nothing more than business as usual in old Lexington county. All this race needs now is that geezer Frank “Saving Lives” Barron or Jakie Knotts to get in to really make it a f’ing circus.

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Lexington Born January 1, 2015 at 10:40 am

I actually called Crawford and asked him on the “knowing for a year” part, and he said that he had received the information from the DOJ- that they already had this investigation going for quite some time……I am waiting to hear some of the candidates speak before I make my decision.

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Readyforaseriouschange December 30, 2014 at 2:28 pm

Jay Koon has the experience needed for this job.

Jim Crawford is a great guy but has no business running the Sheriff’s Department. I cannot imagine he actually wrote the letter stating he has never done anything wrong. There is no call nor situation that is always black and white. There is way more grey than most will admit and its a judgement call. No one is perfect. Jim has had his share of issues over the years and the LCSD needs a strong leader to step up and run the County. He isn’t running as a Republican because he knows he cannot beat a few opponents.

This handpicked by Leon deputy does not have the experience needed for the job and Tyndall certainly does not have the ethics required and is lucky he hasn’t been indicted.

I know Jay isn’t perfect but he has the integrity and experience to be the Sheriff.

To the person who said they called ole Danny up to get help with the ticket, I am proud that LPD didn’t drop the ticket. No one is immune from the law, no one! Just ask Danny and Jimmy!

Not all law enforcement officers are dirty. 99% of them care about their community and do it for for the right reasons and not the glory.

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rdj December 30, 2014 at 2:47 pm

I would mostly agree with you and growing up with Jay he always seemed like a good guy. I even told him that after he busted my ass for complaining to him. He went so far that I felt like someone I hadnt spoke to in years had some personal vendetta against me. It startled me a bit to be honest … to the point I called SLED to file a report.

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rdj December 30, 2014 at 3:08 pm

And again for the record according to Koon he was the fixer for Frazier
There were many times they did drop tickets. Just dont call to complain about anything then your fixed tickets come back. Fact friend … fact

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Squishy123 December 30, 2014 at 6:19 pm

From what I’m hearing from people who work for the Sheriff’s Dept., the guy in charge right now has cleaned house and got the place running like it should be run. I don’t care how old he is, let him run the place… at least the politics and good ol’ boy system has been forced to shut down.

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rdj December 30, 2014 at 6:47 pm

I hate to stir up more shit but I was told by someone in public relations at the sheriff dept. That they also wanna shut down anything like facebook that provides info to the public because its none of our business !

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Squishy123 December 30, 2014 at 7:09 pm

Why would a Sheriff’s department have a FaceBook page? Does the County Coroner have a FaceBook page? How about the county landfill?

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rdj December 30, 2014 at 7:12 pm

I think they might … the idea that a potential elected official wants to keep info from his constituents concerns me. Maybe you should move on second thought.

Squishy123 December 30, 2014 at 8:22 pm

That’s what websites are for.

Why don’t you suggest they get Twitter accounts as well, that way you know know where the latest death was and what your neighbor threw in the trash.

rdj December 30, 2014 at 8:32 pm

If left up to you maybe there should be no info provided to the public …. we can just become North Korea.
According to somethings ive read in here the media only tells us what the politicians want us to know. So im sure it’s the same on any of the sheriff dept websites. Again my point is we have the right to know what our paid officials are doing. Someone told me the other day that we need some level of government to keep things in check. I told them im not positive that is true. But i know for a fact the government worker of any type needs me to exist. Without my taxes they have no job. Just like any employer i deserve minimal at least info of what your doing with your time and my money.

rdj December 30, 2014 at 8:42 pm

Somehow you’ve turned this into a discussion of whether im as good,bad or the same as frazier and that since im no different than him that im unworthy as a human being so … since you believe that trust me when i say that koon is not your guy

Jimmy The Crook December 30, 2014 at 9:28 pm

Metts used FB like most things, as a tool for self-promotion and self-aggrandizement. He REQUIRED his deputies to have and maintain a personal FB page, complete with family photos, and to constantly promote him and LCSD on them. The selfishness and stupidity of such is off the chart in making deputies and their families potential targets for retribution.

I would much rather see someone of integrity in LCSD drop “the cone of silence” (aka radio encryption 24/7) and allow the press and the public to hear what is happening in their communities and neighborhoods in real time. As many of us suspected when Metts implemented the cone of silence back in the late 1990’s, Jimmy really did have something to hide from the public.

concernedaboutlexington December 30, 2014 at 2:38 pm

How about Ben Spence? I think he was going to run a few years back. He has experience. Has his name been mentioned?

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Old Black Man Crawford December 30, 2014 at 3:12 pm

“Oh, I told ’em den, don’t be breakin’ de law no mo, ‘cuz it gonna be a probleeem. What? Why’ze didn’t I doos somthin’ den? When’ze I was a cop? Oh – silly deee. Cops don’t arrest oddder cops in dez same dpartment. Look at dat Sheriff downz in da Low Country. No sir, I wasn’t beholdin’ to de citizens den. But nowz I independent and nots needin’ to answer moo questions.”

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Rocky December 30, 2014 at 3:20 pm

Everyone knows the Lexington Republican Party will select the next Sheriff – probably one who will look the other way again for the connected and powerful – focused solely on speed traps and ripping off the people who move in and commute into Richland County. What is wrong with you people – our state has become a joke of corruption. Last Governor says he’s hiking and is off nailing his Latin hottie (and she is a hottie) – the one we have now screws the port of Charleston for campaign cash, and let’s not even talk about the Legislature. As a citizen I’m ready to raise my hand and invite the Feds in to take over the state and clean things up – because we keep electing the same corrupt gang members. Forget the Crips – the SCGOP is worse.

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rdj December 30, 2014 at 3:34 pm

Whose gonna clean up the feds ?

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Hard as Rocky December 30, 2014 at 3:51 pm

The Feds are already clean, they’re not elected and not chosen by political parties. That’s why FBI is professional law enforcement – instead of buddy can I get a reach around.

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rdj December 30, 2014 at 4:11 pm

I hope your right. But what does it take …

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truthmonger December 30, 2014 at 6:34 pm

Last thing Lexington needs is anyone controlled or backed by Lott. Just look at what happened at Columbia when they “took over”….

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CantKeepittomyself December 30, 2014 at 7:56 pm

So.. You guys do know that Lexington PD officers cannot make an arrest without clearing it with a supervisor right?? That has always been a little fishy to those of us in the business. As in why would a supervisor need to know who and what before an arrest can be made. Leaves it open to make sure another good ole boy cant be arrested. They have effectively turned their officers into security guards.

Now while Koon was over at LCSD he couldn’t fathom the idea that deputies could make an arrest decision without clearing it with someone. Guaranteed if Koon gets in the door will be opened at LCSD to make sure the wrong person doesn’t get locked up for something silly like breaking the law.

As for Tyndall the gators gas station comes to mind as well as Tim James cough cough Poker Machines cough cough. Links to Cayce Cough Cough Any how Vote how you want, but Koon is a product raised by the problem and will keep it going– Maybe take us another 40 years to catch it if he gets in.

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Same ol' Same ol' December 30, 2014 at 10:46 pm

I’m not from that neck of the woods, so don’t have a dog in the hunt. Doesn’t mean I’m not interested.
I am curious, would there be any county in SC where the sheriff and county PD are actually straight up and doing what they are supposed to do? Just who do these sheriffs and PDs answer to? Certainly there has to be someone who can pull their chit when they go astray? Methinks it should be a short leash.
Also, why are they allowed the cone of silence. I know sheriff Wright, as popular as he is, has implemented the cone in good ol’ Sparkle county. Is there no redress for this?
All police, fire, emergency frequencies should be public. No private radios. No private videos.

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Scooter December 30, 2014 at 11:42 pm

Personally, I would like to see Capt. Hamp Taylor run for the office. Hamp is a young man who has been with the Sheriff’s office for some time. He comes from a respected Batesburg family. We need some young blood.

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Wendy December 30, 2014 at 11:53 pm

Good choice!

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you know me December 31, 2014 at 11:03 am

The ONLY man for the job is Stace Day.

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reality January 3, 2015 at 10:42 am

Jim hasn’t actually lived in Lexington for the last year. The other side is prepared to expose this when the time is right. And furthermore he tried to get the endorsement, money etc from the same people Britt has and he even agreed/promised all the same corrupt things but they turned their back on him. Sorry we need another candidate all together.

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