PRESS RELEASE
July 1, 2015

FCSO MAKES ARRESTS IN HEAVY EQUIPMENT THEFT RING

SUBJECT: Douglas Kevin Grimsley, Jr. age 31, of 8745 Francis Marion Road, Scranton, SC 29591 was arrested by Investigators with the Florence County Sheriff’s Office on June 19, 2015 and charged with three (3) counts of Grand Larceny (S.C. Code Section 16-13-030(B)) and one (1) count of violating the Motor Vehicle Chop Shop, Stolen and Altered Property Act (S.C. Code Section 56-29-30). See FCSO Booking Website for additional information.

NARRATIVE: A joint investigation with the Florence County Sheriff’s Office and the Clarendon County Sheriff’s Office has resulted in a major heavy equipment theft ring being cracked and the recovery of over $300,000.00 in property. According to Investigators, they have recovered bulldozers, excavators, dump trucks, heavy equipment trailers, heavy construction tools and light plants stolen from Florence County, as well as Horry, Dillon, Clarendon, Sumter and Orangeburg counties. The investigation originated in Clarendon County when sheriff’s deputies there discovered equipment reported to have been stolen from Florence County. From there the investigation led to the discovery of numerous other items of heavy equipment stolen from other counties.

FCSO Investigators have arrested Douglas Kevin Grimsley in connection to the thefts and have charged him with three counts of grand larceny and one count of altering or removing vehicle identification numbers. Grimsley is being held at the Florence County Detention Center on a $35,000.00 surety bond.

Investigators have also obtained arrest warrants for Ronald Lee Lyons, Jr., age 31, of 3141 Willard Henry Road, Florence, SC 29505 in connection with this investigation. Anyone with knowledge or information regarding the whereabouts of Lyons is asked to contact FCSO Investigators at (843) 665-2121, exr. 468 or

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Crime Stoppers of the Pee Dee at 1-888-CRIME-SC. You do not have to reveal your identity to leave information.

The investigation into this matter is ongoing and additional charges and arrests are possible.

END

Major Michael M. Nunn
General Counsel/P.I.O.