Local Radar

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Johnston Police Chief injured in drug arrest after car chase

web posted June 14, 2007
JOHNSTON – A traffic stop for loud music ended with a car chase, the Johnston Chief of Police injured, and one man going to jail on multiple drug charges. Randall Yelldell, 21, of Courtney Road, Trenton, is currently being held on a custody order at the Edgefield County Detention Center and is facing multiple charges stemming from the event Wednesday morning Sheriff’s Chief Investigator Randy Doran said.

Investigator Doran said he passed Mr. Yelldell on Wren Street in Johnston and observed Mr. Yelldell playing the radio extremely loud and initiated a traffic stop to warn him about the noise violation. A quick check of the registration of the rented 2007 Lincoln Town Car and Mr. Yelldell’s driver’s license came back clear. Investigator Doran said while he was talking to Mr. Yelldell, “he began acting real nervous and I asked him if there was anything in the car I needed to know about.”

Johnston Police Chief Chris Aston, who was nearby, and another Johnston Police Officer arrived at the location of the traffic stop. As officers were talking to Mr. Yelldell they say he suddenly threw the car into drive and sped away from the scene. “He (Yelldell) almost ran over (Investigator) Doran and (Johnston Officer) Craig Wooten when he took off,” Chief Aston said.

The three officers began pursuit of Mr. Yelldell down Wren Drive and continued through May Street and Aiken Avenue before turning onto Highway 121 towards Trenton. During the chase Mr. Yelldell is alleged to have thrown something out of the passenger side window on May Street.

The near three-mile chase ended on Highway 121 near H.E. Herlong Road when Mr. Yelldell pulled over again after it was obvious he could not outrun law enforcement. Once the second stop was initiated Chief Aston said Mr. Yelldell continued to reach into the open car door after he exited the car, “I didn’t know if he was reaching for a gun, so I moved in to tackle him.” It was then that Chief Aston suffered pulled muscles in his legs. “When it happened I went down but luckily I fell on top of him and we were able to cuff him,” Aston said.

Another officer searched the area where Mr. Yelldell was observed throwing something out of the window and discovered a large quantity of drugs in a zip-lock bag. The bag contained what is believed to be a large quantity of marijuana, crack cocaine, and powder cocaine Investigator Doran said.

The quart-sized bag packed full of marijuana also contained two smaller bags, a golf ball sized bag of what is believed to be crack cocaine, and another similar sized bag of what is said to be cocaine. Also confiscated from the console of the car was $327 in cash.

Mr. Yelldell was transported to the Detention Center were he is being held awaiting formal charges jail records showed. He will face a bond hearing later Thursday. Investigator Doran said the Sheriff’s Narcotics Investigators are involved in the investigation and that charges of trafficking in drugs was being perused late Wednesday.  

Johnston Police Chief Chris Aston said in a phone interview from his home late Wednesday that he was under the care of his physician and was expected to be out of work for a week due to the injuries he received during the arrest. “But, I’m hoping to be back at work by Monday,” Aston said, “at least in some capacity.”

It is unknown if charges will be filed against Yelldell for almost hitting the officers with the car in his attempt to flee. The investigation is still in the early stages Investigator Doran said.

Mr. Yelldell is not unfamiliar to police as Edgefield Police Officers have previous charges of simple possession of marijuana, manufacturer or distribution of cocaine, and possession with intent to distribute drugs other than cocaine within the proximity of a school or park, which were all filed on October 22 of last year.

Those charges are said to be scheduled to be heard later this month in General Sessions Court.

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