Two-hour search in Sun City for driver of a vehicle with stolen plates comes up empty

After a nearly two hour search for a man driving a car with stolen license plates in the gated and guarded community of Sun City, sheriff’s personnel called off the search without making an arrest.

A deputy who was patrolling Sun City around 9:50 a.m. Monday ran the tags of a suspicious Honda. The license plates had been reported stolen, spokesperson Master Sgt. Danny Allen said.

When the deputy approached the unidentified Black male driver, he fled on foot and in the resulting pursuit, the Sheriff’s office increased their presence in the 55 and older age restricted community. They were looking to find the man or any evidence, but ultimately deputies were unable to find either. The search lasted until about 11:45 a.m.

Allen said the Sheriff’s Office can’t comment on any concerns for not finding the man because he’s unidentified. No weapons or indications the man was armed were discovered.

Sun City is approximately 12 miles west of Hilton Head Island and has multiple entry gates on two of the county’s major roads. The planned community has property in both Beaufort and Jasper County and construction of homes and amenities began in the 1990’s and continues today in the Jasper County area of the development.