ORANGEBURG, S.C. — A man charged with breaking into the Washy Co. self-service laundry in Orangeburg, S.C., tried to cover his tracks by pretending to be asleep, according to police.Lee Ernest Leach, 43, was arrested when police spotted a man inside the laundry, according to an Orangeburg Department of Public Safety incident report.A passing officer saw a man standing between the rows of washing machines inside the closed store, and when the officer pulled into the parking lot, the man ducked behind some washers, according to the report.“I found the subject lying on his back on top of a folding table behind the rows of washing machines, pretending to be asleep,” the report said.Leach told police he had found the door unlocked and was only looking for a place to sleep, but officers indicated that there were signs of forced entry to the business as well as several washing machines.Police also said they found a hacksaw, two knife sheaths, two kitchen knives, a screwdriver and a pair of pliers in the store.Leach is charged with second-degree burglary and two counts of malicious injury to real property related to more break-ins at the same location. Orangeburg City Judge Barney Houser set bond at $50,000.Leach was also charged with two counts of malicious injury to real property in connection with two previous incidents at the Washy Co.
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