Page Two Omar Police Report Shriner

ORI#:

Agency Name: Mount Pleasant Police Department

Report Date/Time: 03/15/2008 23:00:00

OCA#: 2008-P-03264

functions held at the Omar Shrine Center at Patriots Point Rd. A description of a vehicle owned by C.A. Gatlin was obtained by Detectives prior to the function at the Shrine Center. Tipster information revealed that the vehicle of C.A. Gatlin was the location that Gatlin and Broome would store the illegal alcohol during Shriner functions. Per SCDMV files, the vehicle owned by C.A. Gatlin was noted to be a 2003 Chevy Suburban bearing SCTag#309CPW. Upon our arrival at the Shrine Center, the aforementioned vehicle was noticed to be parked on the Coleman Blvd side of the building directly adjacent to the side entry/exit door. Undercover Detectives maintained a position of surveillance within the Shrine Center during the Annual St. Patrick's Day Hillbilly Clan #82 celebration. During the party, Gatlin and Broome were noticed participating in the event with Gatlin primarily being the Master of Ceremonies for the party. Also, Gatlin and Broome visited the Chevy Suburban at least once during the course of the party. They were not noticed to be returning to the party with any visible items of contraband, specifically illegal liquors. At about 2300 hrs, Det. Hembree and I exited the side entrance door near the parked vehicle of Gatlin and Broome. Immediately upon exiting the side door, we noticed the rear doors to the Chevy Suburban wide open and Broome was sitting in the back of the vehicle next to a white in color cooler. Broome was observed handing a clear glass mason jar filled with a brownish hi color liquid to a white male who was approximately 70 yoa. I heard Broome refer to the liquid as "apple pie" and after receiving the mason jar, the male handed Broome a quantity of U.S. Currency. Det. Hembree engaged Broome in brief conversation and she agreed to sell Det. Hembree ajar of the suspected liquor. Det. Hembree handed Broome $20 in official Police funds and Broome handed Det. Hembree a mason jar of the brown in color liquid. Immediately following, I asked Broome If I could buy some "apple pie." Broome agreed to sell me a mason jar of the liquor liquid and I handed Broome $20 in official Police funds and Broome handed me the mason jar of liquid. Meanwhile, the 70 yoa male who purchased the first mason jar started to walk across the parking lot with the item. Captain Gragg who was the outside surveillance Officer approached the scene to speak with Janie Broome. Det. Hembree and I approached the male in the parking lot. The mason jar was confiscated from the male and we returned to the Chevy Suburban, the location of Captain Gragg and Sgt. Salata. Sgt. Salata returned to the inside of the Shrine Center and had Gatlin meet with us at his vehicle. Both Groome and Gatlin admitted to possessing the liquid liquor in the mason jars in the cooler in the vehicle of Gatlin. Both gave Detectives consent to search the vehicle and they turned over (5) mason jars of liquid which were stored in the cooler in the rear part of the vehicle. Groome stated that they transported the jars from their house in Hanahan where they had about 3 additional cases at the house. Groome said the she buys either Everclear alcohol or another brand of alcohol from the Total Wine and Beer Distributor in West Ashley. Groome said that she mixes it with apple cider, apple juice, brown sugar and cinnamon sticks. Groome said that she boils the items together and repackages the alcohol concoction in the mason jars for sale. Groome and Gatlin agreed to turn over the remainder of the mason jars of alcohol from their house, therefore at about 0015 hrs, Det. Hembree and I followed Groome and Gatlin to their residence in Hanahan at 1247 Greenfield Place. Both Groome and Gatlin signed a consent to search form and directed us to several cases of mason jars with the brown alcohol that was stored mainly in the garage. A total of 58 jars was recovered from Groome and Gatlin and they were placed into evidence. Both Groome and Gatlin were not charged at this time. Case is active. A follow-up with possible charges will conducted at a later time and date.. Nothing further.