Family arrested for drugs, theft

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Posted: 9:38 PM Jan 10, 2008
Last Updated: 10:52 AM Jan 11, 2008
Reporter: Aiken County Sheriff's Office News Release

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January 10, 2008

AIKEN, S.C.---The Aiken County Sheriff's Office has arrested
a North Augusta family on drug charges and the theft of copper tubing
from a former textile mill in Graniteville, South Carolina.

Oliver W. Harden Jr., 41, 256 Chestnut Avenue, North Augusta, South
Carolina, is charged with Manufacturing Methamphetamine, Burglary -
Second Degree (two counts) and Possession of Burglary Tools.

Donna Harden, 38, 256 Chestnut Avenue, North Augusta, South Carolina, is charged with Manufacturing Methamphetamine, Burglary - Second Degree(two counts) and Possession of Burglary Tools.

Justin C. Harden, 17, 256 Chestnut Avenue, North Augusta, South
Carolina, is charged with Manufacturing Methamphetamine, Burglary -
Second Degree (two counts) and Possession of Burglary Tools.

Jessica Harden, 21, 256 Chestnut Avenue, North Augusta, South Carolina, is charged with Manufacturing Methamphetamine.

Michael D. Canipe, 46, Chestnut Avenue, North Augusta, South Carolina,
is charged with Manufacturing Methamphetamine, Burglary - Second Degree (two counts) and Possession of Burglary Tools.

Acting on a tip, ACSO investigators searched the family's
home Thursday afternoon and discovered various equipment and
chemicals used to manufacture methamphetamine in a building behind the home. Investigators found an amount of the drug, as well.

A 10-month-old baby was taken into emergency protective custody by the South Carolina Department of Social Services.

"This is a classic example of people committing property crimes in order
to feed their drug habits," says Sheriff Michael Hunt.

Shortly before 5:00 a.m., deputies arrested Oliver Harden, Donna Harden, Justin Harden and Michael Canipe after they spotted them running from former Avondale Mills - Gregg Division, 165 Marshall Street, in Graniteville. Deputies recovered several rolls of copper tubing.

ACSO learned from its investigation the family removed the copper tubing on Wednesday and returned to the plant early Thursday to retrieve it.

The subjects are being held at the Aiken County Detention Center.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Ann Location: Aiken County on Mar 8, 2008 at 09:36 PM
Someone who has pending charges against them should not be considered a reliable nor credible witness. Prosecutors have an ethical obligation not to resort to such inappropriate means in their quest for justice.

Posted by: Anonymous on Feb 23, 2008 at 07:53 AM
The criminal sexual assualt charges against Kelvin Mathis were based on false accusations and unfounded misinformation. He was falsely arrested and maliciously prosecuted until the time when an Aiken jury (12 people) found him not guilty of ALL charges. In the process of Barbara Morgan's improper prosecution of this case she cost Aiken taxpayers thousands of dollars in court costs, legal fees, etc.

Posted by: Baby Location: Columbia on Feb 11, 2008 at 07:27 AM
Barbara Morgan just gave someone 96 days for manslaughter. She has over 4,000 pending cases and received numerous mistrials in the last few years. She's decided to quit her job having one of the lowest conviction rates in South Carolina.

Posted by: Hunter Location: Aiken County on Feb 9, 2008 at 08:10 PM
It's no wonder Barbara Morgan is quiting her job. She like to get the criminals to make unfounded statements against the innocent. There is no justice in a system that is so corrupt.

Posted by: Michael on Jan 30, 2008 at 05:21 PM
If Barbra Morgan was doing her job of convicting criminals and not trying to rail road inocent people by making deals with criminals these people would have been off the streets 7 or 8 years ago. I also believe Oliver Harden may have been the last person to see a woman missing from the area a few years back. It was reported to the authorities who ignored the information.

Posted by: anoympus on Jan 15, 2008 at 09:38 AM
YOU KNOW THEY ARE DOING DRUGS, LOOK AT THERE NOSE ITS RED AS FIRE, I FELL SORRY FOR THAT BABY,THEY NEED TO TAKE THAT BABY AWAY FROM THEM LOW LIFE PEOPLE

Posted by: barbara Location: augusta on Jan 11, 2008 at 09:21 PM
they need to stay in jail, that poor baby had to live ,like that with a family that rather do drugs,then take are him are her, put them in prison and dont let that trash back on the street, god bless the baby

Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 11, 2008 at 09:23 AM
THEY NEED TO LOOK FOR A OLDER RED CONVETTE AND A GUY THAT GOES BY THE NAME TODD BECAUSE HE IS IN WITH THIS BUT NOT CAUGHT. HE GOES BY A FAKE NAME AND HAS BEEN WANTED FOR AWHILE NOW BY POLICE.