Man leads deputies on chase across US 278; and other crime reports

A 26-year-old West Columbia man was arrested Saturday in Bluffton after he allegedly led Beaufort County deputies on a brief foot chase across U.S. 278 and injured an officer's hand.

Rodricus Deshawn Baxley is charged with felony assault on an officer, resisting arrest, fleeing police and obtaining goods under false pretenses.

A CVS drug store employee called police around 4 p.m. when Baxley allegedly tried to return goods he had bought the day before with a bad check. When deputies arrived at the store on S.C. 46, he ran across U.S. 278 and into the parking lot of Taco Bell, said sheriff's Capt. Allen Horton.

As a deputy approached, Baxley flailed his arms and kicked, injuring the officer's hand, Horton said.

Deputies eventually got Baxley under control and arrested him, Horton said.

He is being held in the county jail with a bond of $12,185.

The following reports were released Sunday by the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office:

BLUFFTON

VANDALISM

• Eagle Point Plantation, U.S. 278: Entry way, events sign smashed, glass broken and doors bent. Damages: $200.

BREAK-IN

• Chechessee Golf Club, Chechessee Creek Road, Okatie: $2,200 in golf equipment stolen from unsecured, 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier.

Pine View Drive: Flat-screen combination TV/DVD stolen from rear seat of unlocked vehicle.

HILTON HEAD ISLAND

BREAK-IN

• Point Comfort Road: Sirius satellite radio worth $150, prescription drugs worth $17 and backpack worth $200 stolen from unsecured, 2005 Nissan Pathfinder.