The police chase that led to several school lockdowns in Fort Mill on Friday led to the arrest of two Rock Hill men and the discovery of guns and weapons, authorities said.
A third suspect remains on the loose, with authorities asking residents in the Waterside subdivision and surrounding area to call police immediately if they see anything suspicious.
Here are details of the Friday incident from Fort Mill Police Maj. Bryan Zachary:
At 11:06 AM today, a Fort Mill Police Department officer was attempting to conduct a routine traffic stop for a speeding offense, on Banks Street, when the vehicle failed to stop and a pursuit ensued.
While attempting to evade officers, the driver of the suspect vehicle lost control and rolled the vehicle on to its side, at which time one suspect was apprehended and two others fled the scene on foot, in the area of 2300 Banks Street (Nation Ford Chemical Company).
A search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of firearms, magazines and ammunition, and a quantity of narcotics. Additional officers responded to the area at that time, and the York County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit and SLED Aviation Unit were called to conduct a search for the suspects.
After several hours, a second suspect was located and taken into custody without further incident, in the area of the Waterside on the Catawba neighborhood. The search then resumed, but the third suspect was not located, and has yet to be identified.
Brenden Demarkus Johnson, age 23, of Rock Hill, South Carolina, has been charged with the following: Possession of Marijuana With Intent to Distribute, Possession of Ecstasy With Intent to Distribute, Unlawful Carrying of a Handgun, Possession of a Firearm By a Convicted Felon, Reckless Driving, Failure to Stop for Blue Lights and Siren, No SC Driver’s License
Davon Sharif Thompson, age 27, of Rock Hill, South Carolina, was charged with the following: Possession of Marijuana With Intent to Distribute, Possession of Ecstasy With Intent to Distribute, Unlawful Carrying of a Handgun, and Possession of a Firearm By a Convicted Felon.
Bond hearings for both subjects were completed Friday night, with bond set for Johnson at $90,000.00 and Thompson at $70,000.00. Both subjects will be transferred into the custody of the York County Detention Center.
Background: According to research by the Fort Mill Sun, both subjects have previous arrests for serious crimes in York County.
Thompson was cleared of a 2015 gang-related killing but later charged with an armed robbery he allegedly committed while out on bond for the murder arrest. He was one of three people accused in a burglary and robbery at a woman’s apartment complex on McGee Road in Rock Hill.
Johnson had previous charges dismissed for attempted murder, robbery and drugs. But in August, he was charged with fleeing police in a case that remains pending.