Man gives up when woman yells at him
By TARA JENNINGS Ledger Staff Writer tara@gaffneyledger.com

A Gaffney man faces multiple charges including child endangerment, after he ran from police and left a 21-month-old child behind, a report at the Gaffney Police Department states.

Officer Johnny Miller of the Gaffney Police Department has also charged Demariel Chantee Smith Sr., 23, of Limestone Courts Apartments, Apt. L- 54, 940 N. Limestone St., with public drunkenness, assault and battery and breaking arrest.

Miller said he noticed an open beer beside Smith, who was at Limestone Courts and Settlemyer Street, at 8:11 p.m. Thursday, June 7. When the officer asked Smith who the beer belonged to, Smith said it was not his. Miller said he noticed a strong odor of alcohol on Smith and told him he was under arrest, according to the report.

As Miller attempted to place him in handcuffs, Smith pushed the officer - nearly causing the officer to step on the child - and took off running, the report states.

Miller did not chase Smith because he said he could not leave the child for safety reasons since the boy was near the street.

The officer contacted the Department of Social Services (DSS) and said he waited approximately 15 minutes before the child's mother arrived.

When the mother yelled for Smith to "get over here" he walked out from behind some of the apartments and was arrested. The woman told police that Smith was on probation for a drug charge, the report states.