Deputies in Berkeley County say a Ladson man’s common law wife had two men with her when she arrived home around 9 p.m. Jan. 15. Not long after that all three males would end up at the hospital where a, bat swinging shooting victim was treated and an assault suspect was found with enough evidence hidden in his body for a pending drug charge.
The incident summary given to the media by Chief Deputy Mike Cochran stated the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office responded to 209 Miami St. in Ladson at 9:10 p.m. after a call from dispatch about a shooting.
The incident report stated deputies found a man with a gunshot wound to the leg.
After investigating further, deputies determined the man was at his home on Miami Street when his common law wife arrived at the house with Jack Scruggs Jr. and Richard Leclerc III, the report stated.
Words were exchanged resulting in a fight between the three men. Deputies said the resident used a t-ball bat to fight off his attackers, but was injured by a gunshot to his leg. The report goes on to state the man then struck the two suspects with the bat, about the time sheriff deputies and EMS started arriving at the scene.
Due to their injuries all three were taken to Trident Regional Medical Center off University Boulevard where there would be an additional surprise for investigators.
While Jack Scruggs was being examined at the hospital, “it was determined by medical staff that Scruggs had a wide array, of illegal narcotics hidden in his anus,” said Chief Deputy Mike Cochran in the summary report.
Investigators said when all of it was removed by medical staff there was a wide variety of illicit drugs. There was a bag containing a white, rock-like substance that field tested presumptive to be cocaine weighing 2.6 grams, a clear bag containing approximately 4.4 grams of marijuana and a folded up dollar bill containing heroin. Also found was a piece of tin foil containing .4 grams of methamphetamine and another bag of pills containing five Oxycodone tablets.
Cochran said the resident and the two suspects where then treated and released.
Following their discharge, Scruggs and Leclerc, both of Summerville, were arrested for assault and battery of high and aggravated nature and a weapons charge. The two were then transported to the Hill-Finklea Detention Center in Monks Corner. A bond hearing is planned for 9 a.m. on Jan. 17. At this time the drug charges are still pending.
