ANDERSON COUNTY, SC (WSPA) – All three suspects wanted in the K-9 shooting and carjacking in Anderson County have been taken into custody, according to Sheriff John Skipper of the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office.
The first suspect, 23-year-old Sergio Martin, was captured Wednesday by Deputies.
The second suspect, 22-year-old David Fitzgerald Morris, Jr., was arrested during a traffic stop on Shockley Ferry Road in Anderson while the third suspect, 18-year-old Martavious Shamon Craig, turned himself in to the Seneca Police Department.
Morris, Craig, and Martin are all charged with two counts of Attempted Murder and one count of Cruelty to a Police dog.
A Facebook post from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office states, “[Martin] was taken into custody and is being held at the Anderson County Detention Center on charges of Attempted Murder and Shooting a Police K-9.”
For hours Wednesday, law enforcement swarmed the yard of East Coast Signs on New Prospect Church Road, where the stolen car was dumped.
Owner, Ben Mallard, was having a quiet day.
“My wife and I were inside having lunch. For a change, the phone wasn’t ringing like crazy,” he said.
That didn’t last long when sirens blasted.
“We looked out the door and there were sheriff’s cars pulled up into the side property of my building. One out in the street and this red car up here,” Mallard explained.
Mallard learned a car-jacking turned into a pursuit. Which then resulted in a foot chase with the Anderson County Sheriff’s Senior k-9 taking the lead.
“Thirty seconds later – a minute at the most – I heard 4 or 5 shots off in the woods,” recalls Mallard.
Those gun shots would prove fatal for k-9 officer Hyco, according to the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office. They say the 6 year veteran of their k-9 unit had national accreditation and was simply doing a job he was highly skilled to do when the suspects fired at deputies and him.
“An attack on a k-9 is just like a police officer,” said Sheriff John Skipper.
Hyco’s death is particularly stinging for Sheriff Skipper and Hyco’s handler, Deputy Brandon Saratt.
“Handlers are an unusual breed of people. That dog is their partner. As I understand, under the circumstances, the dog probably saved our handler’s life here,” said Skipper.
When the news spread to Mallard, he was angry.
“To have these guys come running, have them decide to wreck their car, get out and start running through the woods right here, drop their drugs at the corner of the fence and keep on keeping on, I try not to judge people, but they need to catch these guys and get them off the street,” said Mallard.
Mallard isn’t alone in his feelings of anger. Facebook has exploded with comments regarding Martin’s alleged killing of k-9 Hyco.
Hope he rots under the jail. I’m so tired of scumbags like these killing innocent people and dogs. There is a special place in hell for someone who would kill a K9 dog.” – Jessica S.
Other are grieving the loss of Hyco and sending prayers to the k-9’s partner and handler, Deputy Brandon Saratt.
“My condolences to the family and officer who cared for K-9 Hyco, and to the entire Anderson PD. Very sad loss.” – Emma D.
