The Criminal Investigative Division and the Regional Support Unit of the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office made an arrest earlier this morning in a string of convenience store robberies. The suspect is Courtney Lamont Pauling, B/M, DOB: 083186, 645 S. Irwin Ave., Spartanburg, SC, 29306. Early last Tuesday morning, there were 2 attempted robberies and a completed robbery within several hours of each other. The first attempt was at the Domino’s at 2307 Reidville Rd at 35 minutes after midnight. Suspect came to the door wearing a dark hoodie with a red bandana over his face while displaying a pistol. The doors to the business were locked, and the suspect fled the scene. At 2:10 AM that same morning, the same suspect attempted to rob the Lil Cricket at 1228 Boiling Springs Rd., but again, the doors were locked, and suspect left. At 2:54 AM that same morning, the same suspect was successful in robbing the Kangaroo Express at 2195 E. Main St., Duncan, SC. From reviewing video from all 3 incident locations as well as surrounding businesses, the same suspect vehicle was caught on camera near the Domino’s and Kangaroo Express. The vehicle was a silver Pontiac Grand Prix with hubcaps missing on the driver’s front and rear passenger tires as well as a noticeable dent in the driver’s side back quarter panel. Investigators began a surveillance operation last week of convenience stores throughout the county, and last night, a deputy spotted a vehicle matching that description. The surveillance team began tracking the vehicle’s movements, and at one point, Pauling exited the vehicle from the passenger side and discharged numerous rounds from a semiautomatic pistol in the direction of an undercover unit following him. Shortly afterwards, a traffic stop was conducted on the vehicle in the parking lot of the shopping plaza at 1735 John B. White Sr., Blvd. Pauling exited the vehicle with the gun in his hand and ran across the boulevard into a neighborhood where he was apprehended in a yard behind a residence. There were 2 other B/M passengers in the vehicle, and Pauling’s ex-girlfriend was driving the car and is the owner of it. One of the B/M’s was arrested for PWID Marijuana, and the other B/M was arrested for Unlawful Possession of a Pistol. Pauling’s ex-girlfriend was cooperative with investigators and informed that she let Pauling borrow her car last Monday night for several hours. She also identified her car in the video of both the Domino’s and Kangaroo robberies, and she identified Pauling’s voice in the Kangaroo robbery. She also confirmed what had already been seen earlier tonight and on video that Pauling is very bow legged.
For the incidents at Domino’s and Lil Cricket, Pauling is charged with Attempted Armed Robbery, Possession of a Weapon during the Commission of a Violent Crime, and Possession of a Weapon by a Convicted Felon. For the Kangaroo incident, he is charged with Armed Robbery, Possession of a Weapon during the Commission of a Violent Crime, and Possession of a Weapon by a Convicted Felon. He is also charged with Attempted Murder for discharging multiple rounds in the direction of the undercover officer earlier this morning. At the time of his apprehension, Pauling had 3 active warrants from the Spartanburg Public Safety Department, a bench warrant for False Information to Police and 2 other warrants for Criminal Domestic Violence and Use of Vehicle without Owner’s Consent. Because of the severity of these offenses and consideration of his past similar offenses, a formal bond hearing was requested, date and time to be determined
