Two county men were arrested last week after attempting to shoplift from the Laurinburg Tractor Supply Company and assaulting a store employee, according to police.
Police say that Tractor Supply employees observed Larry Glidewell, 45, of Laurinburg and Darien Parks, 44, of Laurel Hill concealing items, and when confronted pushed an employee and left the items. Glidewell displayed a pocket knife to deter employees from following, according to police.
The employee was unhurt in Thursday’s incident.
The men left the business and exited the parking lot in a vehicle. Authorities say they located them on Lauchwood Drive near Johns Road. In an attempt to evade pursuit, they turned down a dirt road off Johns Road.
“Driving behind a residence, the subject’s vehicle struck a shed causing damage to the shed and vehicle,” said Lt. Cliff Sessoms of the Laurinburg Police Department. “The subjects drove the vehicle into the woods and fled on foot into a swamp.”
After a two-hour search by police as well as Scotland County Sheriff’s officers and state Highway Patrolmen, Glidewell and Parks were located.
Glidwell was charged with one count of shoplifting, one count of assault with a deadly weapon, one count of resist delay or obstruct on officer, and one count of simple assault. He was placed in Scotland County jail under a $7,500 bond.
Parks, who complained of an illness due to having taken an excessive amount of medication while hiding in the swamp, was treated and Scotland Memorial Hospital before being placed in the Scotland County jail. He was charged with one count of failure to stop for a siren, one count of reckless driving, one count of injury to real property, and one count of resist delay or obstruct an officer, as well as 13 outstanding warrants for failure to appear in court.
He was placed under a $45,700 bond.


















