November 4, 2009

NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C.---Police have arrested a man accused of attempting to rob a woman in North Augusta and leading deputies on a chase in Richmond County.

Officers tell us that Tuesday afternoon Larry Jerome Rainey pointed a gun at a woman who was in the parking lot of the Shoppes in North Augusta. The victim started screaming and Rainey jumped in his car and drove off towards Richmond County.

North Augusta Public Safety Officers alerted Richmond County that the man was driving an old black and white police car. Deputies in Richmond County located the car and tried to stop it near Sandbar Ferry Road. The suspect took off and deputies followed him. We're told Rainey turned onto Bobby Jones and headed back towards South Carolina. He then lost control of the car and tried to run off, but investigators arrested him. The car was left in gear and it hit a NADPS vehicle before landing in a nearby ditch.

Rainey is facing charges in Georgia and has a pending armed robbery charged in South Carolina. Officers say that Rainey was involved in other criminal activity in Williston and Aiken County.