Lexington Photo Gallery | Police: Woman defecated, urinated in police car

The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department and Pelion Police Department arrested a man and woman who they say stole a cell phone and vandalized a patrol car Thursday night.

Police say 46-year-old Thomas Burkes and 48-year-old Regina Watts stole a cell phone from a motor vehicle off of Edmund Highway.

According to police, when they caught up with the couple, they were leaving the Peanut Store walking on Highway 302 towards Pelion.

Officers say when they approached Watts and Burkes, both of them appeared to be under the influence of drugs and alcohol. When questioned, officers say that Burkes admitted to be intoxicated and Watts said she had taken a valium.

Officers say a car pulled up behind their patrol car and a woman stated that the couple had stolen a cell phone and lighter from her vehicle.

Officers then placed Burkes and Watts under arrest.

Police say that Burkes became angry and began yelling and using profanity. Both were placed in the back of a patrol car.

Officers say once they shut the door they observed the passenger breaking the window.

Officers say they secured both subjects until another unit was called.

When officers tried to speak with Watts, she had taken her handcuffs off and hid them somewhere, they then re-handcuffed her and searched the vehicle.

Officers say that Watts had pulled the headliner down, bent the blue light bracket and pulled the wires out of the blue lights, making them inoperable.

According to officers, she had also broken the radio and radar antenna and defecated and urinated in the floorboard of the vehicle.

Damage to the vehicle is estimated at $500.

Burkes and Watts were both transported to Lexington County Detention Center.