OCSO Arrests Three in Relation to Vehicle Break-In and Burglary Investigation

Austin Matthew Land

Robert Creek Gibson

Samantha Rae Arnold

(Walhalla, SC)————————————–The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office has filed charges this week against two men and one woman in relation to an investigation into vehicle break-ins, and the burglary of a residence, at the Pier Apartments.

Deputies from the Uniform Patrol Division responded on Tuesday of this week to Queens Park Loop due to reports of the vehicle break-ins and the burglary of a residence. Items were stolen from the vehicles and from the residence, which included electronic items, a wallet, a bank card, clothing and cash.

The investigation was turned over to the Criminal Investigation Division. Investigators learned on Tuesday that the bank card that was stolen from the residence was used at a business at Oconee Square Drive in Seneca and that the victim’s name had also been forged. Two subjects, 27 year old Austin Matthew Land of Seneca Creek Road of Seneca and 25 year old Robert Creed Gibson of Cottontail Drive in Westminster were arrested by deputies and investigators at the business location and were booked into the Oconee County Detention Center Tuesday evening.

Based upon evidence that was obtained, Investigators obtained a search warrant for the suspect’s vehicle as well as for addresses on Seneca Creek Road and Stoney Road, both near Seneca. During the execution of the search warrants, items that were reported stolen were recovered.

Land has been charged by investigators with three counts of Petit Larceny, two counts of Breaking into a Motor Vehicle and one count each of First Degree Burglary, Forgery and Criminally Receiving Goods. At this time, Land remains in custody at the Detention Center on a combined $38,615.00 surety bond. Land will be required to wear an electronic monitoring device, as a condition of bond, should he be released.

Gibson has been charged with one count of Receiving Stolen Goods for having stolen clothing items in his possession on Tuesday. At this time, Gibson remains in custody at the Detention Center on a $5,000 surety bond.

Yesterday, deputies took 25 year old Samantha Rae Arnold into custody on charges of Financial Transaction Card Forgery and Financial Transaction Card Fraud. According to arrest warrants, Arnold is accused of using a victim’s bank card for a purchase at a Seneca area business while forging the victim’s name also.

Arnold was released from the Oconee County Detention Center today on a combined $10,000 personal recognizance bond.

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind our citizens to please lock their car doors, and doors to their residences, as well as removing all personal and valuable items from their vehicles while those vehicles are parked at their residences.