Four student-athletes arrested in CSU robberies
Updated 11:58 a.m., November 18, 2008
Tyrone Lattimore
Zachery Hillery
Samual Baptiste
Ronald Jay Baldner
Charleston Southern University has confirmed that four student-athletes, one an active football player, were arrested Monday night in connection with last week's armed robbery and abduction from the school's campus.
North Charleston police said a bail hearing for the students on charges of armed robbery and kidnapping was expected at 2:30 p.m. today. Police identified the suspects as:
— Zachery Hillery, 20, of Sanford, Fla.
— Samuel Baptiste, 20, of Naples, Fla.
— T.J. Latimore, 19, of Cleveland
— Ronald Jay Baldner, 19, of Crystal River, Fla.
The four are accused of a robbery that began in the parking lot outside the men's dorms on Nov. 11. A female student and a male acquaintance were in a car about 7:45 p.m., waiting for the car's owner to get out of class, when two men approached.
One wore a mask and the other brandished a gun. The robbers got in the back seat, pointed a gun to the back of the male student's head and told him to drive.
The men made him drive to the nearby Atlantic Palms apartments, where the robbers took the $30 or so in cash they had, then ran away. No one was injured.
Spencer Pryor, North Charleston police public information officer, said that all four suspects are charged as part of an alleged scheme, though witnesses reported seeing only two robbers. They all listed the school's campus as their local address.
Charleston Southern said that all four were involved in the school's football program, though only one was an active member of the team at the time of the incident. They have been suspended pending the outcome of the case, said Doug Dickerson, director of public relations, in a release.
Latimore, a running back, has played in recent games. An online roster lists Hillery as a defensive lineman and Baldner as a wide receiver. Baptiste is not mentioned.
The press release also includes statements from the school's head football coach and president.
Said Coach Jay Mills: "We are disappointed to hear of the charges brought against these young men. Our athletics program at CSU continues its commitment to the academic, athletic, spiritual and character development of our student athletes."
CSU President Jairy C. Hunter expressed "regret that these individuals chose a path not representative of the Christian values at the university."
After last week's incident, the university was placed on lockdown as a precaution. An alert system sent out nearly 6,000 automated phone calls, e-mails and text messages to students, parents and faculty. Later that week, the school announced additional security measures, including extra armed officers and evening foot patrols. The school has promised checkpoints at the entrance to the campus at night and more surveillance cameras.
About 3,330 students are enrolled and nearly 1,100 of them live on the 300-acre campus on U.S. Highway 78.
A student was robbed at gunpoint in his West Russell dormitory room on Oct. 6. One student and a former student were arrested and charged in that case.
Reach Noah Haglund at 937-5550 or nhaglund@postandcourier.com.
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Comments
This article has 13 comment(s)
Posted by thebugqueen01 on November 18, 2008 at 11:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
As always..."check back for more information". I know this one sentence was written a few minutes ago. But, why not wait until you can say what sports all the stundents were playing? Or at least which robberies they are accused in. (It may be all of them, there have been too many to remember.)
Posted by LadyTarHeel on November 18, 2008 at 11:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Bug: There was only one robbery and abduction last week. And I'm like you, why can't they just wait until they have more information to give the public before saying anything at all?
Posted by armymom on November 18, 2008 at 12:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The man who was "abucted" was robbed twice, two nights in a row, and most of the posters assumed it was a messed up drug deal.
Posted by islandbenzbc on November 18, 2008 at 2:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hoodlums at a "christian" university...wonderful!
Posted by kontact on November 18, 2008 at 2:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Its still more to this story. I cant see the guy getting robbed twice. Thats not coincendental!!kontact
Posted by Surfcaster on November 18, 2008 at 3:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Redistribution of Wealth 101. Now give each a bottle of Mad Dog, a koran, and one-way bus ticket to Chicago.
Posted by GermanyXO on November 18, 2008 at 3:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If any of these student-athletes were granted a CSU scholarship, then I would expect each to pay each equivalent CSU scholarship dollar back as 1 hour of community service. These young guns still have a chance to be released if the robbery victims refuse to press charges in light of speculation that the incident had involved illegal drugs. Something tells me there's something fishy about 4 men making off with only $30. If $30 was the most all of them would split, then they might as well have given all of it back as an act of apologetic stupidity.
Posted by devster on November 18, 2008 at 9:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
They better all get 10 years in jail for armed robbery.
Posted by GermanyXO on November 18, 2008 at 10:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Good one, devster.
I almost forgot about that band of spoiled "My Parents are Rich and I Deserve More" degenerates from Wando High School each getting up to 10 years for armed robbery and/or accessory to armed robbery. However, unbeknownst to us, all of those kids are probably serving lesser sentences, knowing deep down in places they don't talk about in parties, or will soon brag about on their MySpace and Facebook pages, that they got away with it.
Posted by chs294 on November 18, 2008 at 11:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
- "in connection with last week's armed robbery"
- "all four were involved in the school's football program, though only one was an active member"
thebug, did you read the article? I think these quotes clearly answer your questions.
Posted by chs294 on November 18, 2008 at 11:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'll correct; it may have been updated since your comment. If so, then you're right. But they have to be the first to report no matter how worthless.
Posted by honesty on November 27, 2008 at 4:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Devster please dont assume these accusations are correct as I stated before I have met Tyrone family and I truly know there family are christians and Tyrone is a great young man, someone else asked him if he could go pick these guys up,and he did not knowing they robbed someone, its ashame these guys put someone else in this. I heard they wrote a statement saying Tyrone had nothing to do with it. I hope and pray Tyrone;s life is restored and he can continue with school,he is totally a very good person from good stock!!!
Posted by honesty on November 30, 2008 at 10:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
From my understanding the other youngman was unaware also, when he asked Tyrone if he could go pick these two guys up from someone home,the robbers definetly need some type of counseling/punishment & help,so they wont do it again,I really hate that Tyrone & the other youngman was put in this,but just think if they hadnt they may not have ever caught the robbers & they might even have hurt someone if they would have done this again,cant question the higher power.Lets not judge them all so quickly.