SLED investigating Easley incident

EASLEY — A man arrested on armed robbery charges was found dead in a cell at the Easley Police Department on Friday morning.

According to Pickens County Coroner Kandy Kelley, Donald Arnold Warren, 50, of 404 Henry St. in Easley, was found unresponsive in a cell and pronounced dead shortly after 7:30 a.m. Friday.

Although Kelley said no foul play is suspected, the incident is being investigated by the State Law Enforcement Division. Results of an autopsy conducted at Greenville Health System will be available in four to six weeks, she said.

An Easley Police incident report identified Warren as the suspect in the armed robbery of the First American Cash Advance located at 1040 S. Pendleton St. in Easley around 11:30 a.m. on Thursday.

An employee at the store identified Warren, who she told officers had made several other transactions at the store in the past.

The employee said she had been outside the store when Warren arrived and asked him how he had been lately. The employee said Warren responded “not so good” and told her he had recently been admitted into a hospice facility and doctors said he would probably not survive past this summer.

The employee said Warren encouraged her to enter the store, which she thought was somewhat out of the ordinary.

She said once she walked behind the counter, Warren told her to sit on the floor with both hands underneath her and not move, then moved his attention to the other employee in the store.

That employee told officers Warren demanded all the money in the store and told him he had a .45 caliber handgun in his pocket and would kill him if he attempted to press the panic button or contact the police.

The employee also said Warren told him he had killed two people the night before.

The employees said Warren took $3,384 and left in a black sedan.

Warren was later arrested, and a warrant alleged that he was identified on video in addition to being known by witnesses.