A Greenwood man says two men stole $700 from him Wednesday night and claims the Greenwood Police Department is dragging its feet in apprehending the suspects.
Police Chief Ray Moore said that the man, Mark Lamar Bowie, is demanding that the police violate the law in order to get his money back.
Bowie, who is 61 and disabled, claims the $700 was to be used to pay his monthly rent at the Deluxe Inn and Suites on U.S. 82. He said two men, one “a little bitty guy and the other one a tall guy,” came to his room Wednesday night saying they wanted to borrow Bowie’s set of dominoes.
When Bowie got up to go to the bathroom, he retrieved his medication from a drawer in a dresser in the room. That drawer is also where he keeps his rent money, and that’s likely when the men saw the cash, took it and fled, Bowie said.
He said the men left in a dark Chevrolet sedan. Police responded but did not pursue the sedan, Bowie said.
Moore said Bowie waited 20 to 30 minutes before contacting the department.
“A report was received. He wanted our guys to pick up the guy and get him his money. The last time I checked, that’s called kidnapping,” said Moore.
Police, through interviews of residents at the Deluxe Inn, were able to identify two men who allegedly took the money, he said. Moore said a lieutenant took the affidavits for petit larceny on the two men over to Bowie to sign. He ended signing just one.
Bowie said that Moore had “talked down” to him.
Calls to Mayor Carolyn McAdams regarding police conduct in the case quickly deteriorated, McAdams said.
“‘We can’t just arrest people on just what you think,’” the mayor said she told Bowie.
Now the matter is before Municipal Judge Carlos Palmer. If Palmer signs off, then and only then can an arrest warrant be issued, the chief said. “We kept telling him, ‘This is what the law says we can do.’ He just didn’t want to listen,” Moore said.
Moore said it is possible that Palmer could order that restitution be made to Bowie.
Still, the police have to abide by the law no matter how frustrating that can be. Otherwise, “we’d open this department up to one hell of a lawsuit,” Moore said.
•Contact Bob Darden at 581-7239 or bdarden@gwcommonwealth.com.
