RCSD: 1 Arrested After SRO Notices Suspicious Vehicle Near Play Area On School Campus

(AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

FILE – Shown is a Philadelphia police car with flashing lights in Philadelphia, Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. The Philadelphia Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police has filed a lawsuit Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022 seeking to stop a city law banning officers from pulling over drivers for low-level offenses from going into effect saying the law illegally pre-empts existing state laws on traffic violations. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

RICHLAND COUNTY, S.C. (WOLO)– Richland County deputies say one person has been arrested after a school’s SRO noticed a suspicious vehicle near a play area on the school campus.

Early Friday morning, around 9:15 a.m., H.E. Corley Elementary School’s School Resource Officer (SRO) approached a suspicious vehicle that was near a play area on the school campus, and asked the driver and other occupants to leave.

Richland County Sheriff’s Department says the SRO became suspicious as she smelled the odor of marijuana in the vehicle.

She then requested for back up to assist and for the occupants to exit the vehicle.

Law enforcement say two people left the vehicle and raw away.

The other two in the vehicle were taken into custody.

After the two persons of interest ran away, H.E. Cooley Elementary School security ordered the campus to be secured to protect all students around 9:30 a.m.

Shortly thereafter, IRMO PD spotted the persons of interest at a safe distance from the school and the secured status was lifted around 11:20 a.m.

Of the two that were detained, a 22-year-old identified as Javon Quattlebaum was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, giving false information to law enforcement, disturbing the school, and trespass after notification/refusal to leave.

The second detained person was a juvenile and was released to their parents.

RCSD says there are no charges for the juvenile at this time.

The two other men that ran from the scene were pursued by multiple RCSD deputies on foot that were assisted by the Irmo PD but the two men were not located.

RCSD does not believe the remaining two men are a threat to the community but does ask that if anyone has any information pertaining to the situation to call 9-1-1 or the Richland County Sheriff’s Department at 800-576-3000.