Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott announces the arrest of Maurice Anton McCreary (DOB: 12/25/89) wanted for the unlawful killing of a police dog, five counts of attempted murder, and two counts of armed robbery.

McCreary was arrested on Friday at 10:30 AM, December 16, 2011 on Barony Drive. While conducting a strategic search of the area with the assistance of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, Columbia Police Department, Lexington Sheriff’s Department, and the South Carolina Highway Patrol, Richland County Sheriff’s Deputies found McCreary hiding in a laundry room of the building.

Sheriff Lott states that at approximately 2:30 AM Friday, December 15, 2011 at 5200 Monticello Road (Johnson’s Store), Richland County Sheriff’s Department responded to an armed robbery call. Upon arrival, deputies met with the two victims that stated McCreary presented a handgun and demanded money; McCreary fired shots at them as they fled the area. Richland County Sheriff’s Deputies were able to locate McCreary by the description given and apprehended him during a chase when Fargo, a Richland County K-9 made contact with him. It was at this time that McCreary fired multiple shots into Fargo, and shot at police officers and deputies while fleeing.

Fargo was transported to the South Carolina Veterinarian Emergency Care where he died a few short hours later. Fargo died in the line of duty, doing his job and the department has received numerous calls of support and prayers during this time. It is now that the strength for Master Deputy Warren Cavanagh (Fargo’s partner) will come as we rally around him and each other. Sheriff Lott stated that the community and schools have been tremendous in assisting us in our efforts. Understanding why and what we do when we shut down an area like we had to do this morning. This understanding is important in our efforts to apprehend dangerous criminals like McCreary.

Master Deputy Cavanagh came to Richland County Sheriff’s Department in 2006 from the office of Inspector General with the State of South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice. He has been in Law Enforcement since 2002 and began handling K-9s in late 2004. Master Deputy Cavanagh’s partner K-9 Fargo was a Belgian Malinois who joined our family in 2006 at the early age of 9 months to begin his training. K-9 Fargo was triple wielded in Narcotics detection, Tracking, and Criminal Apprehension. Master Deputy Cavanagh and K-9 Fargo prided themselves in making the communities of Richland County a safe place to live. There will be a memorial service in honor of Fargo next week, details will be forthcoming.

The Richland County Sheriff’s Department has received an outpouring of calls pertaining to raising funds and or making donations to provide vests to the Richland County Sheriff’s Department K-9 Unit. You can forward your tax-deductible support to the Richland County Sheriff's Foundation, PO Box 1182 Columbia, South Carolina 29202.

McCreary will be transported to the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.