Lowcountry Crime Beat: Solicitor’s Office employee charged, drug arrests, and vape shops busted

Law enforcement teams in South Carolina’s 14th Judicial Circuit had a packed week full of serious work. From looking into misconduct by government employees to handling shooting reports and stopping the sale of illegal drugs, officers across the Lowcountry were busy keeping their communities safe. Here’s a simple summary of the major events and arrests from the past week.

Former Government Employee Faces Serious Charges

A former employee of the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, Teresa Pye, has been charged with misconduct in office. She was working as the Program Director for the Multidisciplinary Court when she allegedly warned a person in the program that immigration officers were looking for him. That person was later removed from the program, and Pye was placed on leave.

Later, during a human resources review, new information came out. Pye was then fired in August 2024 and officially charged in March 2025. She went to court for her first hearing on April 9 at the Beaufort County Courthouse. The South Carolina Attorney General’s Office is handling the case.

Two Shooting Incidents in Estill Under Investigation

Police in the small town of Estill, Hampton County, are still looking into two separate shooting incidents. On April 10, shots were fired at Lawton Avenue and Long Street. Police say two suspects were shooting at each other, and although no one was hurt, bullets hit two homes nearby.

Just two days later, on April 12, another shooting took place at the corner of Sprayfield Road and Highway 321. Again, no one was injured, but the Hampton County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public to come forward if they know anything that can help the investigation.

Four Arrested in Drug-Related Cases in Hampton County

On April 15, the Hampton County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of four people in connection with illegal drug activity. These arrests were part of an ongoing investigation by the Narcotics Division. The four suspects include:

Alan Hugh Strother, 62, was arrested for trafficking meth or cocaine and marijuana.

Bryan Lee Crews, 47, was charged with drug possession and had several outstanding warrants.

Victor Coleman Folk, 32, faced multiple charges including possession with intent to sell drugs, cocaine trafficking, and having a gun while being a convicted person.

Dale Franklin Stanley, 31, was also charged with trying to distribute illegal substances.

Sheriff Anthony Russell thanked his team for their hard work and said the aim is to protect all residents, especially young people, from the dangers of illegal drugs.

Vape Shops Raided for Selling Illegal Substances

On April 14, law enforcement officials raided two vape shops in Hampton — Hampton Vape & Tobacco and Once A Time Vape — after getting tips about illegal drug sales.

At Hampton Vape & Tobacco, officers found banned substances and even discovered that someone was living inside the shop, which is against local rules. Due to these issues, the shop was closed by the town’s Code Enforcement Department.

At Once A Time Vape, illegal substances were also found. While no one has been arrested yet, the investigation is still ongoing.

Sheriff Russell said these illegal products were especially concerning because many were made to look attractive to teens. He warned shop owners that selling such products — even if bought legally in other states — is against the law in South Carolina.

To help businesses follow the rules, the Sheriff’s Office plans to host training sessions for shop owners and staff. These sessions will teach them about the law and the dangers of selling unapproved items.

From criminal investigations to public safety efforts, law enforcement officers across South Carolina’s Lowcountry have been hard at work.

Their focus on catching drug dealers, responding to shootings, and making sure businesses follow the law shows their strong commitment to protecting the public. With clear action against law-breakers and a push to educate business owners, officials are working to keep the community safe — especially for children and teenagers who may be most at risk.

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