Wedding & Event Venue near Chester, SC

Chester, SC – Residents across Chester County are being warned today about a fast-moving phone scam in which callers falsely claim to be members of the Chester County Sheriff’s Office. The alert, issued Wednesday morning, urges residents to ignore any call demanding immediate payment to resolve a supposed failure to appear for court.

According to the Chester County Sheriff’s Office, scammers are contacting residents by phone or text while impersonating a captain or deputy. The criminals allegedly tell victims they missed a court date and must pay immediately to avoid arrest. Officials stressed that the message is entirely fraudulent and that no legitimate member of the department would ever request payment over the phone.

The Sheriff’s Office said the individuals behind the scheme are not associated with law enforcement in any way, and deputies will never contact residents to collect money for fines, warrants, or missed court dates. Anyone receiving such a call is advised not to provide personal information and not to send money under any circumstances.

Local authorities are urging residents to report suspicious calls and check directly with the Sheriff’s Office if they receive any message that appears unusual or threatening. The warning comes as similar impersonation scams have been reported across South Carolina in recent months, often targeting older adults or individuals unfamiliar with court procedures.

Residents who believe they were targeted may contact the Chester County Sheriff’s Office for verification or to file a report.

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CHESTER, S.C. (WJZY) — A 20-year-old man is in custody after South Carolina investigators say he broke a school window with his head, entered a classroom, and grabbed a child.

“In my 30 years of law enforcement, I could have never imagined something like this would be happening on Halloween in our wonderful town in a secure facility,” said Chester County Sheriff Max Dorsey after the incident, which put the Chester Park School Complex on lockdown Friday afternoon.

Sheriff Dorsey says the suspect, identified as D’arrius Tyrese Edwards, crashed a car into trees near the school. He then made his way to the playground area.

“They made entry through a glass window using their head,” Dorsey explained, saying Edwards then took a child before exiting through the window. “[They] were engaged by law enforcement there in the playground.”

Officials said the school’s windows are standard, double-pane windows. Leaders assured the school was as secure as possible.

“Once they entered the classroom, there were three adult teachers in the classroom, and they engaged with the individual. One of the teachers actually fought with that person, but that person was able to leave the room, entered the playground area, which is still a confined space,” Dorsey said.

The suspect was tased and taken into custody, and the child was found to be in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries.

Sheriff Dorsey declined to comment on whether mental health issues played a part in the incident, saying it was still too early to tell.

He confirmed there was a domestic element, and it expanded to the school, but Dorsey wasn’t ready to determine motive. The sheriff said that Edwards did not know the child or anyone in the classroom.

Edwards was charged with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, burglary, and kidnapping.

School officials, meanwhile, were set to undergo a debrief as is common practice after a major school event.

“With our debrief and with everything, you always look at new modern techniques. But right now, I’m just so proud of my teachers, of my paraprofessionals, of my students, of the community that has come forward. And I honestly couldn’t have changed anything that they did. I’m just really, really proud of them today,” said Chester County school district interim superintendent Tammy Snipes.

Many of the dogs chained, underweight and fighting infections

LANCASTER COUNTY, S.C. (WBTV) - Four people are in custody after 47 dogs were rescued in Lancaster and Chester counties.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division worked with other local law enforcement agencies to place the animals with the Humane World for Animals organization.

Veterinarians have examined the animals and are being evaluated at a confidential location. One case manager with Humane World for Animals, Manuel Flores, said he was at the rescues and said many of the animals were happy to see them.

The four people who were charged and identified as 33-year-old Diara Charles Talford, 32-year-old Devin Dashaud Mobley, 22-year-old Zion Damir Hairston, and 37-year-old Nicos Kendrell Little are all facing animal fighting or baiting charges and a number of other charges.

They are currently being held at the Lancaster and Chester County Detention Center. Flores said when rescuers arrived they found many of the dogs chained, underweight, and some were struggling with infections.

“You know we’re going to each dog, documenting the scene, evaluating their condition, their physical environment, and when it came time to get these dogs removed from the property, I mean they were just enjoying the company,” Flores said.

Flores said now many of the animals are being held until they are evaluated and ready to be placed in shelters and eventually homes.

“Our placement team will go ahead and do those outreaches to local shelters, possibly any fosters for any type of extended care for them,” Flores said.

The end of the year can be a busier time for many shelters, and the Lancaster County Animal Shelter is no exception. Over the last few years, they say they’ve seen an increase of around 200-300 pets a year. Now, they’re working to ensure animals are surrendered properly.

“Make sure that you actually have the facilities, that you actually have the discretionary income for the dog food, the cat food, actually even making sure that it has its proper shots and is cared for properly,” said Stephany Snowden, Lancaster County Deputy County Administrator.

The county’s shelter can hold around 60 dogs and 60 cats at a time. While they encourage adoptions, they want people who have pets to consider their current care, especially as it gets colder.

“You know, definitely, when we look at these cold snaps, we need to look at bringing them in if at all possible,” Snowden said. “You know they have the Taj Mahal of dog houses with heating capacity, but they just need to be properly sheltered.”

The 6^th Circuit Court Solicitor’s Office will be prosecuting these cases where the 47 dogs were rescued.

Rescuers are urging people in the community to stay alert and report any unusual activity.

CHESTER COUNTY, S.C. — The Chester Park School complex which includes Chester Park Elementary School, Chester Park Center of Literacy Through Technology, and Chester Park School of Inquiry was placed on lockdown Friday afternoon after the Chester County Sheriff's Office said someone smashed a window and grabbed a student inside.

Deputies said it happened around 12:13 p.m. A car reportedly driven by 21-year-old D'arrius Tyrese Edwards crashed in a wooded area nearby and ran to the school.

Deputies said Edwards gained access to the complex via the playground area, then smashed a classroom window. Edwards reportedly grabbed a student inside.

The school's resource officer approached Edwards and used a taser on him. Deputies said he remained combative, but was taken into custody after additional officers and sheriff's deputies arrived.

Edwards is now facing three charges: assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, second-degree violent burglary, and kidnapping. He was taken to a hospital to be examined, and was booked into jail around 7:20 p.m.

The student was also checked out and is stable with non-life-threatening injuries.

During a news briefing after the incident, Sheriff Max Dorsey praised the actions officers took.

"When faced with danger, the good guys ran towards the threat and saved lives today," he said. "In my 30 years of law enforcement, I could have never imagined something like this would be happening on Halloween in our wonderful town."

Dorsey noted other agencies, including the FBI, showed up in the wake of the incident.

The Chester County School District said in a message to parents Friday that Monday, Nov. 3, would be an e-Learning day for the Chester Park Elementary Complex.

The full statement from interim superintendent Tammy Snipes follows:

Earlier today, a serious incident occurred at Chester Park Elementary School when an intruder gained access to a classroom by breaking an exterior window. Thanks to the swift and coordinated response of our faculty and local law enforcement, the situation was resolved within moments, and the suspect was taken into custody. One student sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was immediately transported to the hospital. All other students were safely released to their parents under the supervision of law enforcement officials.

We understand how deeply unsettling this news is for our families, students, and staff. Please know that the safety and well-being of our school community are, and always will be, our highest priorities. Our emergency procedures were followed exactly as designed, and the prompt actions of our law enforcement partners and school staff ensured the situation was contained quickly and without further harm.

In collaboration with the Chester County Sheriff’s Office and other local agencies, we are reviewing every aspect of today’s incident to determine what additional measures may further strengthen security across all campuses. Chester Park Elementary Complex will be operating on an e-Learning Day on Monday, November 3, 2025. Teachers will work with students on any missed assignments. District mental health counselors and crisis management teams will also be available to support students and staff in the coming days. We encourage families to speak with their children about personal safety and awareness as we work together to promote a secure and supportive environment.

I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all emergency responders who assisted on scene, especially the Chester County Sheriff’s Office, and to our courageous staff and faculty for their calm, quick action, and care for our students. We deeply appreciate the continued cooperation and trust of our families, staff, and community as we remain steadfast in our commitment to keeping our schools safe.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - The federal government shutdown entered its 27th day on Monday.

Due to the shutdown, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits were expected to stop by Saturday, Nov. 1. Many residents in South Carolina, and across the country, will be looking for ways to feed themselves and their families.

More than 260,000 South Carolinians rely on food assistance programs like SNAP, including more than 20,000 in York, Lancaster, Chester, and Chesterfield counties in the Charlotte region.

Below is a list of food pantries and food distribution centers in South Carolina counties near the Charlotte area.

Chester Ministerial Association Food Pantry

Fort Lawn Community Center

GRASP

Mt. Moriah Baptist Church

The Turning Point of Chester Inc.

Chesterfield Baptist Church

Cheraw First Baptist Church - Soup kitchen

Fisher Hill Community Baptist Church

FoodShare Chesterfield - Grocery assistance

Harvest of Blessings Food Distribution Program

Lions Club Food Bank

Maranatha Family Center

McArn Ministries

Alston Wilkes Society - Lancaster

Christian Services Inc.

HOPE in Lancaster

Lancaster County on Aging, Inc.

Lake Shore Food Pantry

Rainbow Promise Enterprise

Calvary Baptist Church (Heavenly Food Pantry)

Clover Area Assistance Center

The Community Cafe

Dorothy Day Soup Kitchen

Folkways Community Development Corporation

Fort Mill Care Center

HOPE of Rock Hill

Love N Cherish Family Center

Manna House Pantry

Positive Affirmation Through Helping

Pilgrim’s Inn

Riverside Baptist Church

Salvation Army of Rock Hill

Tender Hearts Ministries

York County Adult Day Center

York County Council on Aging

York County Council on Aging

For an interactive map of food banks and pantries in South Carolina, please visit .

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