Full Notification

Last Tuesday, April 17, 2018, at approximately 7:00 p.m. a trailer containing air conditioning equipment was stolen from the construction site of the new Beaufort County Animal Shelter in Okatie. Video surveillance of the site captured two subjects—a man and a woman—hooking the trailer up to a pickup truck and driving away. Shortly after being reported by employees of the shelter, Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) deputies and the owner of the trailer posted segments of the video and still photographs of the subjects on social media.

As a result of the dissemination of the video and images on social media, a tip on the identities of the man—28-year-old Jeffrey Weatherford—and the woman—28-year-old Jamie Bell—was received last Friday. The tip also revealed that the two might be found at her place of employment in Colleton County. Following up on the tip, BCSO investigators contacted the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) and spoke with deputies with that agency. Deputies with CCSO advised they were familiar with Jamie Bell’s place of employment and responded there, where they made contact with Bell and Weatherford.

BCSO investigators traveled to the CCSO in Walterboro, where Bell and Weatherford agreed to be interviewed regarding the theft of the trailer. Within a few hours, Bell and Weatherford admitted to being responsible for the theft and advised the stolen trailer was in the back yard at a residence belonging to one of Weatherford’s relatives on Fanshaw Court in St. George, which is in Orangeburg County.

Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) deputies were contacted by BCSO investigators and advised of the location of the stolen trailer. OCSO deputies responded to the Fanshaw Court, St. George address, where they found a trailer in the back yard. OCSO deputies confirmed it was the trailer stolen from the new Beaufort County Animal Shelter construction site when they ran the serial number through the National Crime Information Center (NCIC).

BCSO investigators drove to Fanshaw Court, St. George and met with OCSO deputies, where an inventory of the contents of the trailer revealed that all of the air conditioning equipment was still inside. The owner of the stolen trailer and air conditioning equipment was contacted and responded to St. George, where he took possession of the trailer and its contents. Bell and Weatherford were not immediately charged in the theft of the trailer.

Yesterday, BCSO investigators met with a Beaufort County magistrate and obtained arrest warrants for Grand Larceny (more than $10,000) for Jamie Bell and Jeffrey Weatherford for the theft of the trailer containing the air conditioning equipment, which were valued at $11,000 total (trailer valued at $7,000 and air conditioning equipment valued at $4,000). After the arrest warrants were obtained, BCSO investigators tried to contact Bell and Weatherford—both of St. George—but were unsuccessful.

After several more attempts were made to contact Jamie Bell and Jeffrey Weatherford this morning, BCSO investigators listed them in the NCIC as wanted for Grand Larceny. Late this morning, BCSO investigators contacted CCSO deputies and asked them to assist in locating and arresting Bell and Weatherford, who were possibly again at Bell’s place of employment. At around noon today, CCSO deputies contacted BCSO investigators and advised that they found and arrested Bell and Weatherford at Bell’s place of employment. CCSO deputies advised that Bell and Weatherford were transported to the Colleton County Detention Center.
 
As of the time of this advisory, Jamie Bell and Jeffrey Weatherford remain incarcerated in the Colleton County Detention Center on “In-State Holds” for the Beaufort County Grand Larceny warrants. BCSO deputies are expected to travel to Colleton County tomorrow to assume custody of Bell and Weatherford. Once they are in the custody of BCSO deputies, Bell and Weatherford will be transported to the Beaufort County Detention Center, where they will be served with the arrest warrants for Grand Larceny (more than $10,000) and incarcerated.

The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the deputy sheriffs from Colleton and Orangeburg counties, who apprehended Jamie Bell and Jeffrey Weatherford and assisted in the investigation. We would also like to thank the concerned citizen, who viewed the video and still photographs on social media and provide the tip, which led to the identification of Bell and Weatherford and the recovery of $11,000 in stolen property.

We appreciated your partnership and continued commitment to the safety of our community.