CONWAY, SC (WBTW) – The Florence County Sheriff’s captured a wanted man after a shooting in Conway Thursday morning.
According to Lt. Raul Denis, a call came in to police that two vehicles were shooting at each other as they were traveling down Highway 90 around 11 a.m. A witness flagged down a police officer from another jurisdiction who was traveling through the area and at least one unit from the South Carolina Highway Patrol followed the suspects to Squirrel Ridge Drive, Lt. Denis confirms.
Just after 1 p.m., deputies were seen bringing one man out of the woods in handcuffs.
The Florence County Detention Center website shows the other wanted man Patrick Joseph Cassidy, 25, of Conway is in custody.
Cassidy already had a warrant out for his arrest because police believe he stole a different truck in Galivants Ferry earlier this month.
The warrant says that truck was recovered four days later, and Cassidy is seen on surveillance video in possession of the stolen vehicle.
His name can also be seen 33 times on the Horry County Public Index for crimes like burglary, shoplifting, pointing and presenting of a firearm, and assault and battery.
According to the J. Ruben Long Detention Center website, he was released from jail in March for possession of marijuana.
“Apparently one vehicle consisted of a man who recognized the other truck as a stolen vehicle and gave chase,” said Lt. Denis. “Sometime during this chase it was reported that shots were fired. We’re investigating all that. We don’t have any confirmation on any of that. The chase came to a stop here, on Squirrel Ridge Drive, where the gentleman stopped the stolen car, jumped out of the car and ran into the woods, so we have units responding now with our K9 tracking team to try to find this gentleman.”
Lt. Denis says nearly 20 officers were searching for two suspects.
“At this location, we’re about half a mile from a local elementary school here, but they’re not in any danger. All the kids have been brought back inside and everything is under control,” reassures Lt. Denis.
According to Horry County Schools spokesperson Teal Harding, Black Water Middle, located on East Cox Ferry Road, was placed on a high-alert status. As a precautionary measure recommended by Horry County Police, the school has closed the main gate to the campus Thursday.
No students, staff or faculty were in danger. No one was on the school grounds that wasn’t authorized to be there and classes continued as normal, confirms Harding.
The man who was chasing the alleged stolen vehicle is in police custody being interviewed.
Officers moved their search to the Lee’s Landing area Thursday afternoon. As of Friday morning, Lt. Denis says officers believe Cassidy has left the area, and there is no longer an active search.
