They weren’t just breaking into cars in Columbia County. Three Richmond County teens – including two juveniles – drove there in a stolen Toyota Highlander!
Daron Wright, 17, and two younger teens confessed to crossing the county line and targeting vehicles in Evans, said sheriff’s Maj. Steve Morris with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.
Cops got the call around 5 a.m. Saturday about multiple vehicles being entered at the Ashton Woods subdivision. A resident saw three males dressed in all black going through cars.
When deputies responded, the suspects apparently saw them and ran into the woods. A perimeter was set up to contain them and a manhunt got under way.
“A white Toyota Highlander was located in front of 170 Evergreen Drive and the vehicle was stolen out of Richmond County,” Maj. Morris said in a press release. “K-9’s tracked the suspects and eventually they were located and identified as Daron Wright, 17, and two juveniles ages 15 & 16, all three from Richmond County.”
All three confessed. Wright was issued no bond on two counts of entering auto. Both juveniles were transported to the Regional Youth Detention Center on two counts of entering auto.
Several cell phones were seized from the suspects and search warrants will be obtained to determine if these three suspects were involved in any further entering autos in Columbia County, the major said.
A search of the teen’s full name – Daron Lovell Wright – only turns up a 40-year-old man by that same name who was sentenced last spring to 25 years in prison for dealing drugs in Richmond County. It’s unclear if they are related.
This is an ongoing investigation and more charges are pending on these suspects, Maj. Morris said.
