Sumter, SC (WLTX) The Sumter County Sheriff's Office arrested three men Wednesday during an undercover drug investigation which led deputies on two separate vehicle chases, one of which ended with the hospitalization of a suspect.
Earlier Wednesday, narcotics investigators received information leading them to believe three suspects, all traveling in separate cars, were in the process of transporting illegal drugs within the county.
Upon locating the vehicles, deputies attempted to make traffic stops in each instance. In two of those cases, the suspects refused to stop for law enforcement and instead led deputies on high-speed chases. Both of these chases ended with the suspects crashing their vehicles into buildings.
In the first instance, deputies located a suspected vehicle, later found to be driven by 28-year-old Sumter resident Ante Witherspoon. The suspect refused to heed deputies' orders to stop, and led officers on a high-speed chase throughout the Sumter area before crashing his vehicle into a business in the one block of Broad Street in downtown Sumter.
During the pursuit, the suspect was seen to throw a package out of his vehicle.
That package, recovered by law enforcement, was found to contain an estimated 125 grams of suspected cocaine, with an estimated street value of $12,500.
Witherspoon sustained significant, but non-life-threatening, injuries in the crash, and was transported by Sumter EMS to Tuomey Regional Medical Center for treatment.
Witherspoon will be charged with trafficking cocaine – third offense, as well as failure to stop for blue lights.
Shortly afterward, investigators located another suspected vehicle, this one later found to be driven by 23-year-old Rembert resident Tavares McFadden, in the Cherryvale area of Sumter County. Like Witherspoon, McFadden refused to stop for deputies, instead leading officers on an approximate four-mile high-speed chase which ended when the suspect crashed his vehicle into a home in the Oak Lawn Mobile Home Park on Dorsey Drive, also in the Cherryvale area.
After searching the suspect's vehicle, deputies recovered approximately 454 grams of suspected marijuana with a street value of $4,450 and approximately one gram of suspected crack cocaine, with an estimated street value of $100.
McFadden was treated by emergency responders from Sumter County Emergency Medical Services at the scene and then released into the custody of law enforcement. He has been charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana – second offense, possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to stop for blue lights, and driving under suspension – third offense.
Officers with the Sumter Police Department assisted deputies in each of these high-speed pursuits.
In a third instance, 22-year-old Sumter resident Dartanya Harris complied with deputies' blue lights when they located his vehicle on Christine Drive. During a search of his vehicle, officers seized approximately 10 grams of suspected crack cocaine with an estimated $2,000 street value. Harris has been charged with trafficking crack cocaine.
Both Harris and McFadden were transported to the Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center to await bond hearings. Witherspoon remains hospitalized for treatment for his injuries sustained in his crash.
Between the three incidents, deputies also seized more than $2,500 in cash.
The investigation into the alleged illegal drug activity will continue, and more charges and/or arrests remain possible.