CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, S.C. — Richard Freeman, 38, of Hartsville, turned himself in to authorities on Tuesday after being charged in connection with the theft of more than $14,000 worth of railroad rail in Chesterfield County, the sheriff said.
The charges follow an initial report received by the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office on Sept. 8 regarding the theft of approximately 60 feet of CSX Railroad rail. Authorities valued the stolen metal at more than $14,770.
A Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office captain worked with a CSX Railroad investigator to develop evidence in the case, including photographs taken from the scene.
During the investigation, authorities received information indicating the stolen rail was located on a trailer in the Hartsville area of Chesterfield County.
Sheriff’s office investigators and the CSX investigator responded to the location and observed a homemade trailer containing five large sections of railroad rail in plain view, the sheriff said.
Deputies recovered the rail and secured it as evidence at the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office. Freeman was charged with grand larceny valued at $10,000 or more and malicious injury to property.
©2026 Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/LH3JSJEF3VBLRJLJQESEAG34AM.png)
