Motor home stolen, man charged

A 27-year-old Gaffney man was charged with possession of a stolen motor home following a police investigation into a hit-and-run accident that destroyed a stop sign.

According to separate police reports, a motor home owned by a South Johnson Street man was taken from a West Rutledge Street garage, where it had been left for service, between 7 p.m. Aug. 29 and 2:38 a.m. Aug. 30.

Early on Aug. 30, officers were dispatched to the area of Humphries Street and Stephenson Street where a motor home ran over a stop sign and a city street sign but didn't stop. Police said a motor home matching the description subsequently was backed into an abandoned home on Parris Street.

Police said the alleged operator of the motor home, Timothy David Smith, of Pleasant School Road, admitted he had been drinking alcohol and did not have a driver's license. Police said further investigations revealed the motor home had been reported stolen.

The motor home was valued at $20,000 while damage to the street signs and home were valued at $5,000.

Gaffney Municipal Court Judge Kaye Allison set Smith's bond at $25,000 on the charge of possession of stolen goods. Smith also was charged with leaving the scene of an accident involving property damage, public drunkenness and driving without a license.