Police take shooting suspect into custody

Authorities say they found Brandon Jerome Simmons hiding in a rusty Mercedes Friday morning, 24 hours after investigators say he shot a Charleston County Sheriff’s deputy in the face and arm.

Deputies took Simmons into custody at 10 a.m. from a car parked behind 1803 Riverland Dr., not far from where Deputy Jeffrey DeGrow was shot while he was chasing three burglary suspects Thursday.

Maj. John Clark said multiple tips from people in the community eventually led them to the Riverland Drive address. The homeowners gave them permission to search both the houses and the property. Authorities soon found Simmons, 21, of 1861 N. Grimball Road, lying down in the passenger seat of the abandoned car, Clark said. He had three cell phones. It’s not clear whether he was armed.

Deputies thought they had arrested Simmons Thursday night in North Charleston but it turned out to be the wrong Brandon Simmons, Clark said. That suspect is still in custody, however, on unrelated charges.

Authorities have charged Curtis Tyrone Williams, 20, 1060 Farmington Road, and Theodore Akeem Simmons, 20, 1361 N. Grimball Road, with misprision of a felony for allegedly lying to investigators.

Both men are at the Charleston County Detention Center and are expected to appear at a bond hearing Saturday, Clark said.

DeGrow, 33, was resting comfortably at Medical University Hospital on Friday, Clark said. “He’s expected to recover,” Clark said.

Clark said DeGrow saw five suspects in the area of an earlier burglary Thursday and chased after the three who ran. One of them fired, striking the deputy.

While Friday morning’s search was underway, James Island High School, James Island Elementary, James Island Middle School, Fort Johnson Middle School, and Septima P. Clark Corporate Academy were on temporary administrative lockdown as a safety precaution. The area is now clear and all schools are back to normal operations, according to Charleston County School District spokesman Elliot Smalley.

DeGrow was rushed to Medical University Hospital within minutes of the 10:08 a.m. shooting near the intersection of Grimball Road and Sea Water Drive.

Cannon was on his way to the shooting when he learned the ambulance transporting DeGrow needed a police escort, he said. Cannon provided the escort and went into the emergency room, he said.

DeGrow was alert and conscious when he arrived at the hospital, Cannon said.

A hospital spokeswoman said later Thursday she could not release any information about DeGrow. Cannon had earlier described his condition as serious but stable.

Investigators were not sure how many times DeGrow had been shot, Cannon said. One shot struck near his right eye. DeGrow was taken to the Storm Eye Institute for surgery, Cannon said. There was some damage to the eye, but doctors were uncertain whether or not the damage would have a long-term effect on DeGrow’s vision, Cannon said after the surgery had been performed.

Another shot struck him in the forearm, near his elbow, Cannon said.

"He's got some serious injuries, but we feel like he's going to recover," the sheriff said.

According to Cannon, the events leading up to the shooting unfolded like this:

--Shortly after 9 a.m., DeGrow was dispatched to 1749 S. Grimball Road to take a report of a burglary.

--DeGrow arrived at the house at 9:23 a.m. and took the report.

--A short time later, while patrolling near Grimball Road and Cuffy Lane, DeGrow spotted three suspects and got out of his cruiser to chase them.

--At some point in the chase, DeGrow drew his Taser.

--As the suspects ran behind a mobile home, one or more of them opened fire on DeGrow.

--At 10:08 a.m. DeGrow used his two-way radio to report that he'd been shot.

Within seconds of that call, dozens of law enforcement vehicles were screaming down Folly Road with their blue lights and sirens on.

Authorities immediately shut down Grimball Road and set up a command post in a field behind James Island Elementary School.

The search for the suspects was hampered at times by heavy rain and high winds. Early in the search, a helicopter was flying over the neighborhood, but it was grounded after the wind and rain increased. Deputies and officers in marked and unmarked cars stationed themselves on Riverland Drive, Grimball Road, South Grimball Road and Folly Road.

Tracking dogs from several agencies were used throughout the day, Cannon said. Many tips on the whereabouts of possible suspects were called in by residents of the neighborhood, Cannon said. Deputies had two people in custody by mid-afternoon. About 5:15 p.m. SWAT teams began executing a number of search warrants in the area. The warrants were obtained based on information provided by residents, said sheriff's Maj. John Clark, public information officer.

James Island Elementary and Septima P. Clark Corporate Academy were placed under administrative lockdown Thursday, Smalley said. Both schools dismissed classes at normal times. Students who were going to be picked up or take the bus followed a normal dismissal and transportation routine, but students who reside on Grimball Road or walk the road were held at school until their parents could pick them up.

The investigation into the shooting is being handled by the State Law Enforcement Division, Cannon said.

That DeGrow had drawn his Taser indicates he was probably thinking the suspects were not armed, Cannon said. The Taser was on the ground near the scene of the shooting, Cannon said. "He never used it."

About 5:30 p.m., the command post was moved to the sheriff's James Island substation on Riverland Drive.

Officers from the Charleston and North Charleston police departments, the Folly Beach Public Safety Department, the FBI, the U.S, Marshals Service, the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office and SLED participated in the search, Cannon said. The Charleston County Rescue Squad, Charleston County EMS and the James Island Fire Department also responded.

Reach Andy Paras at 937-5589 or aparas@postandcourier.com.