POLICE

[ COLUMBIA ]

Employee at dry cleaner knocked down, robbed – Columbia Police are looking for two suspects who robbed a dry-cleaning business.

The incident happened just after 1 p.m. Monday at Columbia’s Cleaners, in the 7400 block of Garners Ferry Road.

Two men entered the store and demanded money, fleeing in a car with an undisclosed amount, police said. An employee was pushed down to the floor during the robbery but did not suffer serious injuries.

Police do not believe the suspects showed a weapon, or threatened to use one.

One suspect, a black male, was described as possibly wearing a red ski mask, gray tank top and blue jeans. The other, also a black male, was possibly wearing a red hoodie pulled down over his forehead.

Anyone with information should call CrimeStoppers, (888) CRIME-SC.

– From Staff Reports

[ LOWER RICHLAND ]

Fire virtually destroys home – A fire of unknown origin all but destroyed a Lower Richland home early Monday morning, doing some $200,000 in damage.

No one was home at the time, and there were no injuries, said Columbia Fire Chief Aubrey Jenkins.

When firefighters arrived shortly after 4 a.m., heavy fire was billowing out of the roof, he said.

The two-story house at 109 Sagemont Drive is brick, he said.

A neighbor reported the fire, which took more than an hour to bring under control.

The Richland County Fire Marshal’s office is investigating.

– John Monk

[ SUMTER ]

Boy, 3, shot while he and his uncle flee bullets fired from vehicle – A 3-year-old boy is recovering in the hospital after his uncle says the boy was shot while the two were fleeing bullets in Sumter County.

Sheriff Anthony Dennis said the boy’s uncle told authorities the shooting happened at around 4 p.m. Sunday.

The uncle said they were shot at by someone in a vehicle following theirs. He told investigators he pulled over, grabbed the boy and starting running. That’s when the boy was hit by a bullet in his side.

Authorities were still investigating. Capt. Allen Dailey said the boy was in the hospital but was improving.

– The Associated Press

[ LUGOFF ]

Firefighters save family’s beloved beagle from fire – A beagle that was a family’s longtime pet was saved from a burning Lugoff home over the weekend.

The beagle was found during an initial search firefighters made of a burning house Saturday night on North Village Lane near Lugoff, according to Lugoff Fire Chief Dennis Ray.

No one was home at the time of the fire, which was called in by neighbors.

Tens of thousands of dollar in damage was done to the single-story home, though an exact figure was not available Monday afternoon.

The fire apparently started in a rear deck area but was of unknown origin. The cause is now under investigation.

Firefighters from Lugoff, Blaney, Doby’s Mill, and Pine Grove fire departments responded to the fire.

– John Monk

June 12, 2012 | State, The (Columbia, SC)Page: 10 |