The Spartanburg Police Department said the man wanted in an April 2024 violent home invasion was arrested Tuesday, found working behind the counter of a pizza restaurant in South Charleston, West Virginia, nearly 28 months after the attack. Brandon Diquan Hicklin, 32, had evaded law enforcement since the April 18, 2024 incident in Spartanburg, according to police.
According to FOX Carolina News, police connected Hicklin to the violent home invasion and said his arrest resulted from a collaborative effort by Spartanburg police, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and the Virginia State Police. Hicklin was arrested at the pizza restaurant while he was actually working there, police said.
Charges Could Bring Decades Behind Bars
Police said Hicklin is wanted on charges of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, house breaking, a probation violation, and two counts of third-degree assault and battery. The most serious charge, ABHAN, is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison under South Carolina law, according to Justia Law.
South Carolina's first-degree burglary statute carries a penalty of up to life imprisonment under South Carolina Code § 16-11-311. The two third-degree assault and battery counts, by contrast, are misdemeanors carrying a maximum of 30 days in jail and a $500 fine, according to the Shealey Law Firm.
Tips Helped End a 28-Month Manhunt
Investigators found that Hicklin knew he was wanted even as he continued working at the West Virginia pizza shop, the outlet reported. Community members provided information throughout the investigation, Major Art Littlejohn said, adding that the arrest demonstrated the value of strong partnerships and law enforcement's commitment to bringing violent offenders to justice.
State investigators also brought specialized resources to the search. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division provides regional investigative services, according to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Littlejohn said law enforcement agencies will continue working together to hold people responsible for violent crimes accountable.
Extradition Looms After Prior Run-Ins With the Law
Hicklin's arrest adds a new chapter to a criminal history that dates back more than a decade in Spartanburg County. In July 2014, he was arrested on charges including first-degree burglary, armed robbery and first-degree assault and battery, according to Busted Newspaper, and he was arrested again in October 2022 on probation violations and bench warrants.
Hicklin is currently held at a correctional facility in West Virginia awaiting extradition proceedings to South Carolina, according to police. South Carolina has its own statutory process to bring fugitives back for prosecution, per FindLaw. The U.S. Marshals Service describes fugitive task-force partnerships with law enforcement agencies to track down out-of-state fugitives.
Violent Crime in Spartanburg
The case unfolds against a backdrop of violence in Spartanburg. The broader context also includes violent crime in South Carolina. According to WSAV-TV, on 19 Jan 2022, Tevin Latin, 27, who was wanted for murder, was staying at a motel on New Cut Road in Spartanburg County.
