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The Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) are actively looking for four inmates who escaped the rural Pee Dee detention center early Tuesday morning.
The four inmates, Emanuel Robson Planco, Anton Conway Bennett, Kyonne Marquise McLeod and De’Shawn Malik, are currently wanted for escape – along with other charges. One of the inmates is facing robbery charges in Dillon, S.C., and was being held at the Chesterfield jail for safekeeping, according to sheriff Cambo Streater.
Streater told reporters the inmates had a six-hour head start on deputies – and could be as far as Columbia, S.C.
“Immediately as soon as we found out, we started searching,” Streater said. “Darlington County is assisting us. The State Law Enforcement Division, SLED, has got manpower up here, assisting. And we are looking all over we know where the four guys are from.”
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Inmate Thomas Dixon – who was in jail Monday – was supposed to be released on a trespassing charge when the jail went on lockdown. Dixon told reporters he didn’t know the escape triggered the lockdown.
The escape marks the third time in the last four months that inmates have escaped from the 60-year-old detention center, which according to Streater is not in the best of shape. The sheriff further noted the facility was built to accommodate 95 detainees but is currently housing 130.
Additionally, Streater told reporters a headcount of inmates is conducted every morning and night, and that correctional officers walk through the facility throughout the night.
“We have them in areas that are secure areas,” he said. “But you know we only have so many people. And you can’t watch everything at every time. But that is a part of our investigation. We are going to look and see exactly what happened.”
Streater said that the search has expanded to Columbia and he is hoping to get an update on the investigation soon, as it is ongoing and there is no other available information at this time.
As inmates who are charged with escaping from detention centers in South Carolina can face up to 15 years in prison if convicted, the CCSO advises anyone with any information to reach out to its office.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR …
Erin Parrott is a Greenville, S.C. native who graduated from J. L. Mann High School in 2021. She is currently a senior at the University of South Carolina majoring in broadcast journalism. Got feedback or a tip for Erin? Email her here.
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