Chester News & Reporter

12/05/2025

New SLED crime report shows murder and aggravated assault are down in the state to pre-pandemic levels. Check out the attached news release from the S.C. Law Enforcement Division.

SLED 2024 CRIME IN SOUTH CAROLINA ANNUAL REPORT:
MURDER AND AGGRAVATED ASSAULT DOWN TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS
Data reported to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) from participating law enforcement agencies across the state shows that the violent crime rate decreased by 8.4% from 2023 to 2024, the fourth consecutive yearly decrease and the lowest rate since 1995.
The murder rate per 10,000 people decreased by 15.8% from 2023 to 2024. There were 413 murders in 2024, the lowest number since 2018 when 406 people were killed. Similarly, there were 19,710 aggravated assaults in 2024, the lowest number since 2018 when there were 18,611. Significantly, the number of sexual batteries, robberies and burglaries were at 30-year lows.
Data compiled for SLED’s Crime in South Carolina Annual Report comes from state and local law enforcement agencies across the state. Of the 288 active law enforcement agencies in South Carolina, 204 (71%) reported all 12 months of 2024 data.
“I want to thank our law enforcement partners for sending SLED this data so everyone can see these trends,” said Chief Mark Keel. “This information helps us better understand the challenges our communities face. The data shows crime across the board is down. I want to thank the Governor and the General Assembly for their multi-year focus to enact legislation addressing violent crime. It is working, but our work is not done. One area I remain very concerned about is violent crime committed by young people with guns. In 2024, of the 9,612 offenders arrested for weapon law violations, 3,974 (41%) were under the age of 25. This is deeply alarming to me. I look forward to continuing to work with the Governor and the General Assembly, as well as our state and local law enforcement partners to make South Carolina the safest place to live, work and raise a family.”
The 2024 crime book serves as a valuable resource for all communities in South Carolina. The data included in this year’s report can provide essential context to policymakers and law enforcement partners working to help make and keep South Carolina safe
The 2024 SLED data for Violent Crime and Property Crime compared to 2023 is as follows*:

12/03/2025

Today's front page.

12/02/2025

12/01/2025

Regional and community leaders are invited to a special hour with former S.C Governor David Beasley at 5 p.m. on Dec. 2 before his general remarks during the public conference at 6 p.m.

Regional and community leaders are invited to a special hour with former S.C Governor David Beasley at 5 p.m. on Dec. 2 before his general remarks during the public conference

11/21/2025

City of Chester's Thanksgiving schedule.

11/20/2025

An incident report (heavily redacted) of what occurred following Tuesday’s Great Falls Town Council meeting…

11/19/2025

UPDATE: 11/19/2025 6:09 P.M. - We have not been able to locate the suspect who ran during a warrant service at a resident on Arrow Wood Road in the Great Falls community.

Law enforcement will continue to patrol the area.

The public is asked to continue to remain alert and to call 911 if anything suspicious is heard or seen.
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UPDATE 11/19/2025 3:23PM-

We are still actively searching for Jamair Anthony Hawk.

Hawk ran while Sheriff’s Deputies were attempting conduct a warrant service at a residence on Arrow Wood Road.

Anyone in the area is asked to secure all doors and vehicles and notify 911 if you see or hear anything suspicious.
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Chester County Sheriff's Deputies are in the area of Arrow Wood Road in the Great Falls Community looking for one suspect who ran during a warrant service at a residence.

Sheriff’s Deputies are actively searching for a black male dressed in all black by the name of Jamair Anthony Hawk.

The Sheriff's drone team and K9 Tracking Team are on scene.

Anyone in the area is asked to secure all doors and vehicles and notify 911 if you see or hear anything suspicious.

11/19/2025

The News & Reporter has confirmed that sheriff’s deputies were called and did come to the War Memorial Building where tonight’s Great Falls Town Council meeting was held. No reports or arrests yet that we are aware of.

11/19/2025

Tonight's meeting of Great Falls Town Council was ended early. A new public Q&A was unveiled at the end of the open session and one speaker had to be removed from the podium by police after refusing to yield after being told more than five times that his time had expired. As the Council went to retire to executive session, there was a loud verbal confrontation between a member of the public and an elected official. That set off prolonged shouting and again, the police came in to separate the everyone and restore calm. After that, Councilwoman Monica Eagle made a motion (from the hallway going to the closed door chambers for executive session) to adjourn the meeting. After several minutes, some members of the Council returned to the dais and did vote to adjourn without actually discussing the executive session agenda items.