STATE BRIEFS

Escapee back

in custody

COLUMBIA - An inmate who escaped from the Kershaw County jail by scaling a razor-topped fence has been captured, and two women have been charged in his escape.

Richland County deputies say 23-year-old Joshua J. Seibles was captured Wednesday night at a mobile home in Columbia.

On Thursday, police charged 21-year-old April G. Pou with harboring a fugitive and Brittany Lewis with obstruction of justice.

It was unclear if the women had attorneys. Their phone numbers were not listed and a jail official did not know if they had a lawyer.

Officials say Seibles escaped Saturday, wearing nothing but boxer shorts and a pair of socks.

He was being held on charges of burglary, larceny, violation of probation and assaulting a correctional officer.

87-year-old

man dies in fire

GREENVILLE - Authorities say an 87-year-old Berea man has died in a fire helped along by oxygen tanks in his home.

Neighbors say they heard an explosion early Wednesday morning before the home caught fire.

Authorities say oxygen tanks in the home exploded just as firefighters tried to enter.

Investigators say they are trying to determine what caused the fire to start.

The coroner's office is not releasing the victim's name until his identity can be confirmed with medical records.

Deputy wounded

at apartment

SUMMERVILLE - A Dorchester County sheriff's deputy has been shot in the leg during an undercover investigation at a Summerville apartment complex.

First Sergeant Michael Miller told The Charleston Post & Courier the officer was shot about 11 p.m. Thursday at the Haven Oaks Apartments.

The officer's name was not released because he was working under cover. Miller told the newspaper the officer was taken to the Medical University of South Carolina Hospital in Charleston and is expected to recover.

Officers evacuated the apartment complex and entered the apartment where the assailant may have been. Miller did not immediately return a phone call to The Associated Press on Friday morning.

Initial reports say the deputy was confronted by several people and one of them shot him. Sheriff Ray Nash says the deputy returned fire but did not hit anyone.

(Associated Press)