COLUMBIA, S.C. — One of four men who escaped from Chesterfield County Detention Center was caught in Richland County early Thursday morning, but not before he attempted to break into a home and stealing a car.
“Everybody’s been keeping their doors locked until they catch the other fugitives,” Jonny Waiters, a resident, said.
A community is on edge after the arrest of an escaped inmate in Richland County.
Sheriff's deputies were called Thursday morning for reports of a suspicious person possibly breaking into cars at the Greenbriar Apartments.
Isaiah Moore is a resident at the complex.
“I wasn’t surprised about it, they’ve broken in and stolen cars out here before,” Moore said.
That person, now identified as Emanuel Planco, was seen breaking into a car by a K-9 specialist early Thursday morning.
Deputies say Planco led them on a chase to Lone Drive. That’s when deputies deployed stop sticks.
Investigators say Planco then ran away into the woods near Lone Drive. A K-9 officer eventually caught him.
Deputies also discovered Planco attempted to break into a home near Willow Oak Drive and steal a bicycle, but the homeowner fired a shot-scaring him off.
Investigators say during the crime spree, he broke into at least three other cars and took a PlayStation 4, credit cards, and IDs.
People who live in the area say they are staying vigilant.
“The neighbors that live alone and stuff like that, I told them if any strangers come around, give us a call and we'll call the cops or either call the police,” Waiters said.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) said they are working alongside law enforcement across the state to find the other three inmates who escaped from the Chesterfield Detention Center on Tuesday.
They are Anton Conway Bennett, Kyonne Marquise Mcleod, and De’shawn Malik Fox.
SLED said not to approach them. Instead, contact the Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office tip line at 843-287-0235 or call 911.