Contributed byRichland County Sheriff’s Department

Lamar Advertising, Crimestoppers of the Midlands, and Law Enforcement will announce Tuesday at Lamar Advertising on Atlas Road in Columbia, a new partnership to take the criminals off the streets through the use of free billboard space provided by Lamar Advertising. The billboard space will be utilized to showcase individuals wanted by law enforcement, who have eluded capture by conventional means.   

The billboard space is an additional tool law enforcement can utilize to get information out to citizens, thanks to the generosity of the business community. Lamar Advertising’s collaboration with Law Enforcement and Crimestoppers will allow tipsters to anonymously report information on wanted persons, and if the information leads to an arrest, Crimestoppers will pay the tipsters up to $1000.

The first billboard will showcase an individual who has been wanted since December of 2005 for harrassment and stalking female victims. “Lamar is pleased to partner with Law Enforcement and CrimeStoppers by providing billboard space in the ongoing effort to apprehend fugitives.

The use of this powerful medium has proven to be most beneficial in similar efforts in other communities throughout the nation,” said W. Scott Shockley, vice president and general manager, Lamar Advertising of Columbia. “Once again Lamar Advertising is showing their commitment to our communities by providing a service to our citizens,” said Sheriff Leon Lott. “The criminals need to know that businesses, citizens, and law enforcement are united; that they cannot hide and we will work together to bring them to justice.”