Small community shocked by shooting death of sheriff's deputyBy Andy Paras (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Friday, August 8, 2008
Andy Paras Colleton County sheriff's Deputy Dennis Compton was shot in front of this house at 699 Sunflower Drive in Smoaks early Wednesday. ServicesVisitation for slain Colleton County Deputy Dennis Compton will be from from 6 to 9 tonight at the Parker-Rhoden Funeral Home at 117 Paul St. in Walterboro. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the First Baptist Church of Walterboro, 124 S. Memorial Ave. in Walterboro. Burial will be in Virginia. Additional storySlain man’s wife says she lost half of herself, published 08/08/08 Pervious storyThree in custody; Deputy fatally shot responding to Smoaks home burglar alarm, published 08/07/08 SMOAKS — The little white house at 699 Sunflower Drive has been a repeat target for burglars over the years. Friends and neighbors said Thursday that the home had been burglarized twice before Colleton County sheriff's Deputy Dennis Compton was shot and killed in the front yard early Wednesday. Compton was responding to a tripped burglar alarm. Christine and Ben Strickland said their neighbor of 31 years, a widow who lives alone and often works at night, bought the alarm system in 2002 after someone stole her jewelry. They said the woman didn't report it to police, as she did a 1998 burglary, because she was worried that someone she knows was involved. The tight-knit neighbors said it's strange that her house has been targeted three times in 10 years while none of the three other houses on that stretch of road in rural, northern Colleton County have been hit. The burglaries were just about the worst crimes ever to hit the area until neighbor Bill Pinckney, who lives behind 699 Sunflower, was awakened by gunshots Wednesday morning. "The first shot was dead-up at 3 oclock and it woke me up," he said. "And then there were three more shots directly behind that." And then silence. "I didn't hear no car leaving — nothing," he said. Pinckney said the first shot sounded different from the last three. At first he thought it was farmers shooting deer invading their fields, but then he realized the shots came from close by. He put on his clothes and walked to the road with a flashlight, but he didn't see or hear anything until he heard sirens coming from about two miles down the road. He went back inside his house and waited as dozens of officers converged on the scene. The shooting set off a massive manhunt involving officials from four counties. Authorities took into custody three "people of interest" late Wednesday — two in Colleton County and one in Summerville — but are being tight-lipped about the case. As of Thursday night no one had been charged, Sheriff George Malone said. Malone said they were still investigating whether Compton fired any shots. The Stricklands said things might have happened a lot differently had they left their telephone on early that morning. The Stricklands missed a 2:56 a.m. call from the alarm company notifying them that their neighbor's alarm had been tripped. Had he received the call, Ben Strickland said, he probably would have arrived at the house either before or at the same time as the deputy. "Selfishly, I'm so thankful he didn't go, but then you wonder what would have happened differently," Christine Strickland said. The homeowner's son arrived about 20 minutes later and found the deputy on the ground. He used Compton's radio to call for help, Malone said. The Stricklands said their neighbor is shaken up and has not been back out to her house. "Never has there been something as serious as this here," Christine Strickland said. "This is just unheard of in this area." Reach Andy Paras at (843) 745-5891 or at aparas@postandcourier.com. |
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Comments
This article has 9 comment(s)
Posted by RW on August 8, 2008 at 7:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
They ought to be in shock just like everyone else! A brave officer is cut down because of spinless human debris! Auugh!
Posted by a_set_love on August 8, 2008 at 8:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Colleton County Sheriff's Deputy Dennis Compton - Go in the hands of God.
We thank you for your service.
Posted by ASHLEY_COOPER on August 8, 2008 at 8:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
While I'm sure the police do the obvious, a check of a felon locator web site indicates this house is virtually surrounded by potential perps. I have never seen such a density in a two square block area. Apparently, at least two convicted felons live directly behind the house. In fact, the little town of Smoaks almosts looks like it could be the felon capital of SC.
Police standard procedure should be to map out neighborhoods in advance to indicate that they MUST wait for backup when an officer responsed to these hot zones. It may not always be possible to do this but it is not a bad idea.
God bless Officer Compton as he goes on eternal patrol, and his wife and children as well. The community needs to help them as much as they have the families of fireman who have been killed in the line of duty.
Posted by JLM on August 8, 2008 at 12:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Deputy Compton is in our hearts and his family is in our prayers. We should all be thankful for his and other officers service to our community. We can only hope those responsible will be arrested soon.
Posted by granny2 on August 8, 2008 at 1:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
To the Compton family, you are in my thoughts and prayers. Thanks to all the police and firemen,ect for your services.
Posted by beth1070 on August 8, 2008 at 2:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have spoken to a few people this week who knew Deputy Compton personally, and they all say the same thing about him, that he was a truly devoted father and husband, and that he was always more than willing to go out of his way to help anybody. One person told me that he was a great guy to talk to troubled teens and that many parents of troubled teens in Colleton County had asked him to talk to their kids, which he always did so willingly. He will be so missed by the Colleton County Sherrif's dept, and certainly missed terribly by his family as well. God bless Deputy Compton and all law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line everytime they put on the uniform and go to work.
Posted by leelee on August 8, 2008 at 2:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ashley Cooper, care to share the web site that you can track felons with? Had no idea such a thing exsisted. Everyone one including the police should be aware of their neighbors. This is a scary world we live in..
To the Compton family, friends, law enforcement heros, my deepest, heartfelt sympathy and enternal graditude... I am so sorry for your loss.
Posted by dreamer on August 8, 2008 at 5:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Along with the rest of the Lowcountry, I am saddened by this loss. The loss of a law enforcement officer, or a firefighter--those who serve us so faithfully, affects us all. My prayers are with the family....
*That being said--P&C needs to be careful what information they divulge: The article tells everyone the address, where a widow--who lives alone; is hardly ever home. That's TOO much information!!!
Posted by beth1070 on August 8, 2008 at 8:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Dreamer...I completely and totally agree with you about the over abundance of information. The P&C is so wrong for printing this. However, from what I have heard and read about the homeowner, it is doubtful that she will be going back to live in that house. I can't say that I blame her.