Sheriff Duane Lewis

06/19/2026

For Immediate Release
June 19, 2026

𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐟'𝐬 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐠𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐮𝐥𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐮

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. - (Friday, June 19, 2026) Berkeley County Sheriff Duane Lewis announced the arrest of a Bonneau woman after an investigation into an aggravated assault that occurred on June 15. Lindsay Nicole Garcia, 38, of Jinks Lane, was charged with Domestic Violence of a High and Aggravated Nature and Burglary in the first degree.

On June 15, deputies responded to a report of an assault in progress at a home on Cozy Wood Drive. Upon arrival, deputies were directed inside the residence where they located an adult male suffering from severe chemical burns.
The victim was found in a bathroom attempting to rinse an unknown substance from his body. Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and transported him to the MUSC Burn Center for emergency treatment.

Preliminary investigation indicates the victim was involved in an altercation with Garcia inside the residence. Witnesses reported Garcia threw a chemical substance on the victim before fleeing the scene prior to deputies' arrival.

Investigators processed the scene and collected evidence. Due to concerns regarding the unknown substance involved, Berkeley County HAZMAT personnel and fire officials responded to assist in securing the residence and ensuring the safety of those on scene.

The Berkeley County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division and Forensics Unit responded and assumed the investigation.

Garcia was booked into the Hill-Finklea Detention Center. Her bond was denied at bond court.

06/18/2026

06/09/2026

🏍️🚔 MARK YOUR CALENDARS! 🚔🏍️

The Holy City Police Motorcycle Training Seminar is coming to the Charleston Area Convention Center Complex (5001 Coliseum Drive, North Charleston) June 17-20, and you're invited to watch some of the nation's best law enforcement motor officers in action!

This multi-day event brings together police motorcycle operators from across the country to sharpen their skills, strengthen partnerships, and participate in friendly competition, all while supporting a great cause. Officers will navigate challenging obstacle courses and showcase incredible precision riding demonstrations in both solo and tandem events.

🎟️ Open to the public
🏍️ Watch highly skilled motor officers from agencies across the state
👏 Cheer on your favorite riders and departments
❤️ All proceeds benefit MUSC Children's Health

The Holy City Police Motorcycle Training Seminar is a Lowcountry Motor Unit event that highlights the professionalism, dedication, and training of law enforcement motorcycle officers while creating opportunities for positive community engagement.

Bring the family and come support our first responders as they put their skills to the test for a great cause!

05/25/2026

80 Years Ago, Today:

Magistrate Warren Calhoun Guerry
Berkeley County
End of Watch: May 25, 1946

Warren Calhoun Guerry was born on August 23, 1889, in Jamestown to Josh Robert and Elizabeth A. Guerry. He was raised on the family farm in St. James, Santee Township with seven brothers and three sisters.
Around 1918, Calhoun married Miss Mary Bailey. A son, Warren Allen was born on May 12, 1919, and by 1920 Calhoun was working as a Depot Agent for the railroad. By 1930, Calhoun and Mary had added a son, John C. in 1921, a daughter, Evelyn in 1923, and a son, Cecil in 1926. At that time, Calhoun was running a grocery store and Mary was a clerk there. By 1940, Calhoun was farming again and was also a salesman for Watkins Products.

Calhoun continued farming and began serving as a Magistrate for Berkeley County in around 1942.

On May 25, 1946, while acting as a Magistrate in Berkeley County, Calhoun Guerry arrested Charlie T. Smith for cursing and causing a disturbance at a Jamestown store. Smith was searched and placed in the back seat of Magistrate Guerry’s car while a citizen, Luther Altman rode in the front. As Magistrate Guerry drove to the home of Constable Bailey Gamble, Smith pulled a Boy Scout knife from inside his shoe, reached across the seat, and stabbed Magistrate Guerry in the throat. Altman wrestled the knife away from Smith and held him until Constable Gamble arrived a few minutes later. Magistrate Guerry was taken to the Berkeley County Hospital by Woodrow Finklea and Clarence Ackerman, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The knife wound had severed his jugular vein. He was fifty-seven years old.

Smith was taken by Constable Gamble to the Berkeley County Jail, and a short time later was transported to the State Penitentiary for safekeeping.

Funeral services for Magistrate Warren Calhoun Guerry were conducted on Wednesday, May 28th at the Jamestown Methodist Church and he was buried in the Jamestown Cemetery. He was survived by his wife, his three sons, his daughter, his seven brothers, and his three sisters. All three of his sons were serving in the United States Armed Forces, at the time of his death.

Sixty-six-year-old Charlie T. Smith was convicted of the murder of Magistrate Calhoun Guerry on Saturday, October 25th, and was sentenced to be electrocuted on November 29th, by Judge Frank Eatmon. Smith had previously served two years for manslaughter in North Carolina.

On Friday, November 29, 1946, Charlie T. Smith became the oldest person to be electrocuted at the SC State Penitentiary. There was no motion for appeal and Smith spent his last nineteen days on death row. When asked if he wanted to make a statement, Smith replied, “I have nothing to say.” State Electrician Sam Cannon pulled the switch and Penitentiary Physician Dr. M. Whitfield Cheatham pronounced Smith dead moments later. No one claimed his body, so Smith was buried in the prison cemetery.

Berkeley County Magistrate Warren Calhoun Guerry was inducted into the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame in 1996, never to be forgotten.

Magistrate Guerry’s grandson, Georgetown Deputy Chief of Police C. Spencer Guerry was shot and killed in the line of duty on March 9, 1994.

05/11/2026

Deputy Harvey L. Middleton, Sr.
Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office
End of Watch: May 11, 1975

Harvey L. Middleton was born on August 26, 1945, in St. Stephen to Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Middleton. He grew up with his three brothers and two sisters. He attended St. Stephen Elementary School and graduated from Russellville High School. He also attended Trident Technical Center. He joined the United States Army on June 20, 1966, and served in Vietnam. Following his discharge in 1968, Harvey lived in New York and worked as a security officer at the Federal Reserve.

While living in New York, Harvey met Miss Ella M. Hawkins of Jamestown, S.C. They were married on March 30, 1972, and together they had a daughter and a son. The family moved back to St. Stephen where Harvey served as a Trustee, a member of the male chorus, and an assistant Sunday School Teacher at St. Stephen Baptist Church.

Harvey joined the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office on January 26, 1974, and graduated from the Criminal Justice Academy on March 28, 1975.

On Sunday afternoon, May 11, 1975, Deputy Middleton and St. Stephen Police Chief George R. Grassort went to the home of Wilhmena Edwards to serve a warrant on her son, Herman Edwards. Mrs. Edwards had signed the warrant saying that her son had threatened the lives of his wife and brother. He had also threatened to burn down his mother’s house. A few days before, Edwards had shot and killed several dogs, pigs, and chickens on the farm.
Deputy Middleton had been friends with Herman Edwards for most of his life. When Deputy Middleton tried to arrest Herman Edwards, Edwards resisted. As Edwards broke away, he pulled a pistol from his hip pocket and ran behind the smokehouse in the backyard. Chief Grassort went around to the other side of the building as Deputy Middleton followed Edwards. As the Deputy rounded the corner, Edwards fired at him. The first shot missed, but his second shot struck Deputy Middleton in the abdomen. At the same time, Deputy Middleton fired several shots at Edwards, striking him in the right shoulder. Edwards ran off and escaped. Deputy Middleton died at the scene. He was 30 years old.

Herman Edwards was arrested later and taken to the Medical University Hospital for treatment. He was charged with the murder of Deputy Middleton.

Funeral services for Deputy Harvey L. Middleton were conducted on Saturday, May 17th, at the Saint Stephen Baptist Church, and he was buried in the church cemetery. Active Pallbearers included members of the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office and Honorary Pallbearers included members of Masonic Lodge No. 315. Deputy Middleton was survived by his wife, his two-year-old daughter, his three-week-old son, his parents, three brothers, two sisters, and his grandparents.

On January 29, 1976, Herman Edwards was convicted of “Voluntary Manslaughter” in the death of Deputy Middleton and was sentenced to 25 years. He was paroled on March 7, 1984. He violated parole and was returned to prison on April 25, 1990.

Berkeley County Deputy Sheriff Harvey L. Middleton, Sr. was inducted into the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame in 1986, never to be forgotten.

04/21/2026

For Immediate Release
April 21, 2026

𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐂𝐨. 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐫𝐮𝐠 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐢𝐳𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 $𝟑𝟎𝟎,𝟎𝟎𝟎, 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. - (Tuesday, April 21, 2026) Berkeley County Sheriff Duane Lewis announced the arrest of a man who was charged after a seven month long investigation into the sale of illegal narcotics. Aundreas Martell Johnson, 36, of Resinwood Road in Moncks Corner, was arrested on March 22. Johnson faces charges of Trafficking Co***ne 400 grams or more, Trafficking Methamphetamine 400 grams or more, Trafficking Co***ne Base 10-28 grams, Possession of a Weapon During the Commission of a Violent Crime (x12), Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon (x4), and Possession of a Stolen Firearm.

In September 2025, detectives with the Berkeley County Narcotics Task Force began an investigation after receiving information about illegal narcotic activity. During the investigation, Johnson was identified as a distributor of Methamphetamine and Co***ne in the Moncks Corner area.

Detectives executed a search warrant at a residence on Resinwood Road in Moncks Corner. During the search, investigators located a large-scale drug trafficking operation, including:
• Approximately 2.24 pounds of Co***ne
• Approximately 4.29 pounds of Methamphetamine
• Approximately 27.3 grams of Co***ne Base
• Five fi****ms, with one being reported stolen out of Moncks Corner Police Department’s jurisdiction
• Approximately $230,100 in US Currency
• Drug packaging materials, digital scales, a money counter, and other distribution equipment

Investigators also recovered documents and electronic evidence linking Johnson to narcotics distribution activities, including CashApp transactions associated with drug sales. A financial freeze order later revealed more than $30,000 in a CashApp account linked to narcotics proceeds and approximately $25,900 in additional banking assets.

In total, law enforcement seized approximately $286,714 in cash and financial assets as part of the investigation.

“This investigation demonstrates the ongoing commitment of our narcotics task force to identify, investigate, and dismantle those responsible for flooding our communities with dangerous narcotics,” Berkeley County Sheriff Duane Lewis stated. “This individual was identified as one of Berkeley County’s biggest drug dealers.”

Johnson remains in custody at the Hill-Finklea Detention Center pending further judicial proceedings.























***neCowboyNoMore

04/16/2026

The Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office has been named Agency of the Year for DUI enforcement among large departments in South Carolina, officials announced Wednesday.