Three in custody
Deputy fatally shot responding to Smoaks home burglar alarm
BY ANDY PARAS and NOAH HAGLUND
Funeral services
Visitation for slain Colleton County Sheriff's deputy Dennis Compton will be Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Parker-Rhoden Funeral Home at 117 Paul St. in Walterboro.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the First Baptist Church of Walterboro, 124 S. Memorial Ave. in Walterboro.
Burial will be in Virginia.
SUMMERVILLE — After an intense manhunt late Wednesday, investigators finally found someone who might know something about the shooting death of Colleton County Deputy Dennis Compton.
The Post and Courier
A multi-agency perimeter was set up around the Indian Springs subdivision, and officers spent more than an hour combing the neighborhoods and stopping cars before they arrested a "person of interest" in the slaying of the 39-year-old deputy in Smoaks early that morning.
"He's only that at this point," said Dorchester County Sheriff Ray Nash. He would not identify the arrested man, but radio traffic indicated that they were looking for Joshua Lewis Petty, 30, of Summerville.
Photo Gallery
Colleton County Sheriff's deputy killed
Photos from the area near Smoaks where an investigation into the shooting death of Colleton County Sheriff's Deputy Dennis Compton occurred early Wednesday morning, Aug. 6, 2008.
Meanwhile, in Colleton County, two more "persons of interest" were brought in for questioning in the death, said Sheriff George Malone at 11 p.m. He also said the man arrested in Summerville is now there for questioning, too.
Around 9:45 p.m., officers pulled over a car in the subdivision off U.S. Highway 17A, Nash said. A passenger in the car jumped out and was pursued on foot. A bloodhound with the State Law Enforcement Division tracked the man to a nearby location, where he was taken into custody. SLED is the lead agency in the investigation, which is standard procedure in officer-related shootings.
The apprehended man has traffic-related charges from Cottageville and Colleton County, Nash said. Court records show that Petty has been charged with drug possession and assaults. In 2007, he was charged with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature. And he pleaded guilty to assault and battery in 1996.
'Officer down!'
The long day began at 3 a.m.
Anthony Buchanan was already having a sleepless night at home when he heard the breathless announcement over the police radio.
"Officer down! Officer down!" an unknown voice shouted.
Buchanan, a corporal with the Colleton County Sheriff's Office, began putting on his SWAT gear when deputies told dispatchers over the radio not to call him to the scene.
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That's when Buchanan figured out that the deputy dying from a gunshot wound in front of a Smoaks home was Compton, his cousin and lifelong friend.
The two had dreamed about being police officers together since they were children growing up playing cops and robbers in Virginia.
"When they said not to call me out, I knew it was my cousin," he said Wednesday afternoon.
Compton died shortly after the 3 a.m. shooting, setting off a massive manhunt in northern Colleton County for a suspect or suspects.
Malone said Compton might have come upon a burglary in progress when responding to a home alarm call at 699 Sunflower Drive in Smoaks, located about 20 miles north of Walterboro.
Malone said an alarm company notified 911 and the homeowner's son that the alarm had been triggered at the home while the owner was away. Compton arrived first.
The homeowners' son arrived about 20 minutes later and found Compton lying in the front yard near the driveway with a gunshot wound.
The son, who declined to be interviewed, used Compton's portable radio to call for help.
Malone said they were still investigating whether Compton fired his gun or tried to radio for help. He said it's possible the suspect or suspects may have been wounded.
Authorities did not comment on whether they found any signs of forced entry at the house, or whether any belongings were missing.
Nobody was home when the alarm sounded at the white, ranch-style house. The area near Lodge Highway is sprinkled with houses on large-acreage wooded lots.
To help the family
Palmetto Cops Inc., a nonprofit organization, is selling memorial T-shirts to benefit the family of slain Colleton County Deputy Dennis Compton.
For more information or to place an order, go to palmettocops.com/give. Shirts are $15 each and all proceeds will go directly to the family.
Neighbor Virginia Padgett said the woman who lives at the house where the deputy was shot often goes to Walterboro at night to help care for an elderly woman, so it wasn't unusual for her to be away.
What was unusual were the lights and sirens breaking the silence of the early morning.
"In this little community, and I've been living here for 66 years, nothing like this has ever happened," Padgett said. "We have never seen this."
Seventy-five to 100 law enforcement officers soon embarked on a massive manhunt. As dawn broke, a helicopter circled the area.
SLED provided a helicopter, a bloodhound tracking team, a fugitive team and crime-scene technicians. Several police agencies from Colleton County were assisting, as were state troopers. Nash and Charleston County Sheriff Al Cannon both traveled to the scene. "This is a classic example of how law enforcement comes together when something tragic like this happens," Nash said.
Buchanan stayed home. By 3:30 a.m. he was on the phone with his mom in Virginia.
"I figured it was up to me," he said. "My mom just lost it and she had to tell her sister" who lost another son just seven years earlier to a car wreck.
'Cops and robbers'
Compton moved to South Carolina about two years ago in hopes of joining his cousin at the Sheriff's Office. The former government employee started as a correctional officer at the detention center in June 2006.
S.C. officers killed on duty
Three officers have been killed on duty in the state this year. Six were killed in 2007, four of them in the tri-county area.
AUG. 6, 2008: Colleton County Deputy Sheriff Dennis Compton, 39, shot while responding to an activated burglar alarm near the Smoaks community.
MAY 3: Orangeburg County Deputy Sheriff William Howell Jr., 46, shot and killed while escorting a woman to retrieve belongings in the Holly Hill home she shared with her husband.
FEB. 1: Highway Patrol Lance Cpl. James Haynes, 38, killed in an accident on S.C. Highway 33 while responding to another accident.
He became certified as an officer 16 months ago, living a lifelong dream, his cousin said. Buchanan teared up when he talked about Compton receiving his old patrol car when Buchanan got a new one.
"We always played cops and robbers as kids," he said. "We got to live that dream."
Malone described Compton as an honorable family man who was good at his job: "In my opinion, as sheriff, he was one of the best officers that I've had based on his ability to deal with people."
Everyone who talked about Compton used the words "family man."
He had two children, 16 and 3, in Virginia and two stepchildren, 6 and 8, in Colleton County that Buchanan said treated him like a father.
The entire family is taking it hard.
"I don't know how to tell children that their daddy's dead and he's not coming home," he said.
Buchanan joined the sheriff in asking anyone in the community with information about the shooting to come forward.
"If someone knows something, please come forward and let my family have closure," he said.
Nita Birmingham, Cleve O'Quinn, Nadine Parks and Chase Purdy contributed to this report.
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Comments
MRSCVS (anonymous) says...
I am pleased that they have the suspects.
Great job LEO'S!!!!!
August 7, 2008 at 12:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ForPnC (anonymous) says...
Again, my condolences to the family. I hope this capture brings you a little relief.
August 7, 2008 at 3:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jmurray4151 (anonymous) says...
As being a walterboro native I am glad they have someone in custody. I am also a 911 telecommunicator and would like to express my sympathy for those that morning who had to answer the call from the civilian calling in that a deputy had been injured. Hope I never have to experience that and hope that none of those that day will ever have to again. My condolences for the family and also the LEO family.
James Murray
Shift Supervisor
Union County Communications
Monroe, NC
August 7, 2008 at 4:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reality_woman (anonymous) says...
Sincerest Sympathy to this man's family. I am sorry for your loss. May God Bless you all at this most difficult time.
I hope that the person or person responsible for this are caught and brought to justice.
August 7, 2008 at 5:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
10216340 (anonymous) says...
Thank goodness they have 3 people in custody. Hopefully they have found the individuals involved. As the day wore on I was worried that no one would be found. Good job and my condolences to Deputy Compton's family and friends.
August 7, 2008 at 5:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
moonpie (anonymous) says...
Good job LEO's. Go get 'em!
Man you do not want to shoot a cop and try to flee. I guessed less than 24 hrs they would have something or someone.
Can there be a good ending to this already heart wrenching story? This is just senseless stuff.
August 7, 2008 at 6:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Palmetto_Cops (anonymous) says...
To help the family
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Palmetto Cops Inc., a nonprofit organization, is selling memorial T-shirts to benefit the family of slain Colleton County Deputy Dennis Compton.
For more information or to place an order, go to www.palmettocops.com/GIVE. Shirts are $15 each and all proceeds will go directly to the family.
August 7, 2008 at 6:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
grannyofsix (anonymous) says...
Gadsden He was all of that
August 7, 2008 at 7:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wonderdog (anonymous) says...
I agree, Gadsden. I wonder if those who contributed to the fund for the Charleston 9 will contribute to one for Deputy Compton also. All were killed in the line of duty.
Thanks to all emergency personnel for the jobs they do to keep us safe. I pray they all come home safely at the end of their shifts.
August 7, 2008 at 7:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
charlene68 (anonymous) says...
My condolences to the family. I am glad they got the suspects.
August 7, 2008 at 7:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tammie (anonymous) says...
Good morning all.
I was glad to hear that they had someone in custody. The fool made himself look guilty by getting out the car and running! He definitely has the "eye-dee-ten-tee" disease! (ID10T)
Thank you to all of our LEO's and other public service workers for all you do. My sincerest condolences and prayers to the family, friends, and coworkers of the deceased.
August 7, 2008 at 7:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SuzieQJones (anonymous) says...
Sympathy to the wife and children, may a higher power be with you. Cudos to law enforcement for locating the three suspects.
August 7, 2008 at 7:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
granny2 (anonymous) says...
My Condolences to the family.
Gadsden, I agree that the P&C should devote time to this case as they did to the Charleston 9.
August 7, 2008 at 7:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
WSM (anonymous) says...
Dennis was a great guy, one who had a talent for making others laugh.
My condolences to a fallen brother's family.
August 7, 2008 at 7:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
grannyofsix (anonymous) says...
He was also a very fair police officer as well and no matter what, when I had the good fortune to meet him he was very nice and had a great smile. I didn't know him personally but did on a professional level. God Bless his wife children and family and god bless his brothers in Law enforcement god be with you all at this time.
August 7, 2008 at 8:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
coolfreaknbeans (anonymous) says...
I feel much better that they have persons of interest in custody.My heart is stil heavy for this mans family and all of LEO's involved.I hope and pray they have the right people in custody and get the answers they need.What worthless POS thugs!
August 7, 2008 at 8:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
grannyofsix (anonymous) says...
. Colleton County does have good men in law enforcement.
Years ago my son took his skate board on the roof of the post office. Well needless to say he got caught BUT instead of taking him to juvie they brought him home and let his Dad handle it. Doesn't happen much now, but they do try to help our youth here. The same goes for the City police. There aren't enough men to take care of the whole county.And now we lost a good one
August 7, 2008 at 8:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
highclass (anonymous) says...
Josh Petty is well known to DCSO. He has more charges on his record than what has been reported. I wonder who he can tell on this time to try and get out. I pray that telling won't get him out this time.
August 7, 2008 at 8:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Smart_Enough_2_Know_Better (anonymous) says...
Seems that whenever there is such extreme disrespect for the law it's almost always white trash rednecks- never "illegals" or brothers. (Sure, they run too, but they don't shoot at the police like our trailer park cousins so readily do.) Just an observation.
Good police work- hope the prosecution has enough evidence to finish the job.
August 7, 2008 at 10:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ptmama73 (anonymous) says...
Petty is an interesting read in both Summary and Circuit Court on dorchestercounty.net.
August 7, 2008 at 10:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
iceman1978 (anonymous) says...
My thoughts and prayers go out to the family. Law enforcement officials place their life on the line every day for our safety. I hope they make an example of the person responsible for this.
August 7, 2008 at 11:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
GG (anonymous) says...
My heart has been so heavy about this senseless murder of a policeman who was just doing his duty. Heaven has a real hero now. God bless his family.
My daughter was a police officer at one point in her career. I worried about her every day. I was genuinely glad when she finally quit the force. Why? Besides the obvious reasons, she was a USC graduate and made less than $13 an hour.
We have to re-adjust our priorities and stop paying college football coaches millions of dollars and put the money into the salaries of our real heroes - policemen, firemen, nurses, teachers, etc.
August 7, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
grannyofsix (anonymous) says...
ptmama73 how do you find it once you are in there It is saying you need a case number
August 7, 2008 at 11:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
candygirl (anonymous) says...
Smart_enough_2_ know_ better
You are so right!
August 7, 2008 at 11:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
palmetto294 (anonymous) says...
granny of six, go to online case search, then type in his name.
August 7, 2008 at 1:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
grannyofsix (anonymous) says...
thank you palmetto294
August 7, 2008 at 1:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CHRISJIII (anonymous) says...
My condolenses to the officer's family and friends. I hope that they catch the person(s) really responsible and not settle for a scapegoat(s) as has been known to happen around here all too often.
August 7, 2008 at 3:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Rebel_Yell (anonymous) says...
Just get the right guy(s). Violent criminals need to be the top priority over all others. Who cares about non-violent drug convictions or cold beer offenders if it takes the resources away from getting the violent criminals off the street and keeping them off the street.
August 7, 2008 at 3:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
leedy (anonymous) says...
Coldbeer, you rock!!! You said, "This is EXACTLY why I say we need to take a tougher stand on crime.. drug crimes too. Criminals need to be kept off of the streets."
OK, so now I am going to get on my soap box for a minute. This is exactly why we need to stop paying all these baseball players, football players, other sports related participants, movie stars, etc....all the millions of dollars they get paid. We have LEO's that are getting paid just enough to say that they are getting paid more than minimum wage. They get the bottom of the barrel and the other people that do nothing for you but entertain you are getting all the money and extras. Do you really think that this is right? But will anyone do anything about it? Probably not.
Now, for all the criminals that are out on the street count your blessings. You should be behind bars!!! It really gets my goat when I hear of them letting people out of jail for child molestaion, assault and battery, drug dealing, crimes in which they should never be let out of jail for. So what that they have to register themselves on a sex offender registry, tell me one person that really keeps up with that? Why are we slapping these criminals on their wrist and telling them not to do it again, and then turning around and letting them out of the place that keeps them from being able to do these crimes? What are these people thinking? Oh, they wont do it if we make them register on a "sex offender registery." Bull crap!!!! Thats why they are called re-peat offenders!! Why is it that we are allowing this to happen? Us as little people (meaning people that have no authority like the mayors, governors, etc) can make statements like this all day, but are they really going to listen? Absolutely not. I could continue but I should probably stop here! Let me know what you think.
August 7, 2008 at 3:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SCPDBLUE (anonymous) says...
To this date
Total Line of Duty Deaths: 64
Automobile accident: 21
Electrocuted: 1
Exposure to toxins: 1
Gunfire: 24
Gunfire (Accidental): 1
Heart attack: 2
Motorcycle accident: 3
Stabbed: 2
Struck by vehicle: 2
Vehicular assault: 7
By Month:
January: 14
February: 11
March: 4
April: 3
May: 9
June: 13
July: 7
August: 3
By State:
Alabama: 2
Arizona: 1
Arkansas: 1
California: 4
Colorado: 1
Florida: 5
Georgia: 4
Illinois: 1
Indiana: 1
Iowa: 1
Kentucky: 2
Louisiana: 2
Maryland: 2
Missouri: 2
Nevada: 1
New Mexico: 1
New York: 4
North Carolina: 2
Ohio: 2
Oklahoma: 2
Pennsylvania: 1
Puerto Rico: 1
Railroad Police: 1
South Carolina: 3
Tennessee: 1
Texas: 7
Tribal Police: 1
U.S. Government: 4
Virgin Islands: 1
Virginia: 2
Wisconsin: 1
Average tour: 10 years, 6 months
Average age: 38
By Gender:
Female: 6
Male: 58
REMEMBER WE DO GIVE MORE THAN JUST SPEEDING TICKETS
August 7, 2008 at 4:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
grannyofsix (anonymous) says...
SCPDBLUE MAY I for one say Thank you and God Bless you
August 7, 2008 at 5:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
southerngirl45 (anonymous) says...
SCPDBLUE,We don't realize enough how you men and women risk your lives for us everyday and I for one would like to say thank you and may God keep you safe! My condolences to the Compton family.You can be very of Deputy Dennis Compton!!
August 7, 2008 at 8:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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