Off-Duty Deputy Thwarts $60K Jewelry Heist North Charleston Mall

On June 10, off-duty Charleston County Master Deputy Alexander McKinnon intervened in a jewelry store robbery at Northwoods Mall in North Charleston, South Carolina. While shopping at REEDS Jewelers, McKinnon noticed a man stealing jewelry from Great American Jewelry and pursued the suspect, who threatened to have someone come and shoot the deputy. McKinnon tackled and detained the suspect until North Charleston police arrived to arrest him. The suspect, identified as 31-year-old Cedric Gardner of Savannah, was charged with grand larceny and threatening a public official. Sheriff Carl Ritchie praised McKinnon's actions as embodying the commitment to community protection, emphasizing the importance of law enforcement serving regardless of being in uniform. McKinnon also serves as a school resource officer at Mount Zion Elementary School, highlighting his role in protecting vulnerable community members.