COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) -
A man is under arrest accused of several crimes during a spree that spanned two counties Wednesday morning, sheriffs from Richland and Lexington Counties said.
Jerome C. Bartley, 25, is charged with armed robbery, three counts of assault and battery, burglary and strong armed robbery and that's just in Richland County. Officials said he'll face more charges in Lexington County.
The spree began around 9:15 a.m. when, armed with a box cutter, Bartley began victimizing citizens in both counties, Sheriffs Leon Lott and James R. Metts said.
Investigators say it all started when Bartley stole a potato chip truck at the Gaz Bah gas station at 800 St. Andrew's Road.
He then took the truck to a shopping center on St. Andrew's Road, walked into Tripp's Cleaners and assaulted and robbed the clerk, investigators said.
Fleeing with the store's money, Bartley, according to deputies, then ran across St. Andrew's Road to Tire Kingdom where he attempted to steal a man's vehicle.
As he was cutting the driver's neck with a box cutter, two other men startled him and he took off running, investigators said. The driver was transported to Palmetto Health for treatment.
Investigators say Bartley then ran back across St. Andrews Road to a Hess Station where he stole a woman's Chevy pick-up truck.
Bartley then drove the stolen truck to Raintree Apartments where he parked and then ran away, deputies said.
Bartley's travels, according to investigators, then took him to a house on Juneau Road where he assaulted an 84-year-old woman and stole her jewelry and slippers. During the assault, the woman's 79-year-old neighbor attempted to come to her aid, but Bartley punched her in the face, deputies said.
Both women suffered serious injuries in the assaults and are being treated at an area hospital.
Lott and Metts said that through cooperative efforts of the two agencies, Bartley was captured on St. Andrews Road shortly after 10:30 a.m. by Lexington County deputies.
Bartley has been taken to Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.
The sheriffs added that investigators will be working collectively to make sure that Bartley is "punished to the fullest extent of the law for these horrible crimes."
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