Officer Leon Sealey Arrested for Domestic Violence

An officer with the Columbia Police Department has been arrested in connection with a domestic incident involving his wife, officials say.

Master Police Officer Leon Sealey, 64, was arrested Sunday, according to Richland County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Capt. Chris Cowan.

Deputies with the sheriff’s department responded to a disturbance at the officer’s address in a residential area northeast of Columbia around noon, Cowan said.

It was unclear whether Sealey and his wife had been arguing, but Sealey had threatened her and stuck a gun in her face, Cowan said.

Sealey was charged with criminal domestic violence and taken to the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.

Sealey also was suspended without pay pending the sheriff department's investigation, Columbia Police Department spokeswoman Jennifer Timmons said.

Correctional Officer Patrick Harris Arrested for Theft

Patrick Harris, 36, of LaGrange, was arrested Wednesday around 6:30 p.m. at the Troup County Landfill in the 100 block of Parmer Road on theft charges. Harris is a correctional officer at the Troup County Correctional Institute

According to reports, a witness saw Harris driving a truck and pulling a trailer into the property after the gate was secured, which he had keys to.

Deputies arrested Harris as he was leaving the landfill. Several items of scrap metal were found in his trailer.

Harris will be charged with theft by taking, criminal trespassing and violation of oath of office. Additional charges are pending.

Two South Carolina Officers Charged with Using Excessive Force

The Department of Justice announced that a federal grand jury in Florence, South Carolina returned a two-count indictment today charging Eric Walters and Franklin Brown, both former police officers with the city of Marion Police Department, with using unreasonable force against a female citizen.

Walters and Brown have each been charged with one count of deprivation of rights under color of law, specifically alleging that, while acting as police officers, each defendant used unreasonable force on the victim, resulting in bodily injury. The indictment alleges that on April 2, 2013, Walters and Brown each used their respective tasers multiple times on the victim.

If convicted, each defendant faces a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

This case is being investigated by the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Resident Agency of the FBI. It is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Nicholas Murphy and Henry Leventis for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles and Assistant U.S. Attorney John Potterfield for the District of South Carolina.

Former Officer Christopher Whitfield Arrested for Domestic Violence

A former police officer has been arrested and charged with criminal domestic violence, according to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.

Former Williamston police officer, Christopher Whitfield was arrested Friday, said SLED spokesman Thom Berry.

According to Berry, CDV is a misdemeanor with penalties upon conviction of up to 30 days in jail or a fine of up to $2,500.

Whitfield was booked at the Anderson County Detention Center, said Berry.

According to Berry, Whitfield was terminated from the Williamston Police Office on Thursday.

Former Officer Jeffrey Copeland Arrested for Misconduct

A former City of Greenville police officer was arrested by SLED agents on Wednesday and charged with misconduct in office and unlawful possession of a sawed-off rifle.

According to a warrant, the former officer, Jeffrey Scott Copeland, 36, of Greenville, responded to a call about a suspicious vehicle. He's accused of taking a Glenfield .22. caliber rifle with a sawed off barrel and two knives from the vehicle's occupant.

No arrest was made after the seizure, and the warrant accuses Copeland of keeping the items.

Copeland was booked at the Greenville County Detention Center.

The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by SLED at the request of the City of Greenville Police Department. The case will be prosecuted by the Thirteenth Circuit Solicitor's Office.

Officer Tobin Barton Charged with Domestic Violence

A Columbia Police officer was arrested and charged with criminal domestic violence early Saturday morning in Columbia.

Sheriff Leon Lott says that Tobin Barton, 36, was arrested following an assault call around 1 a.m. Saturday near Sparkleberry Lane. Lott stays that Barton and his girlfriend were involved in a verbal alteration, and Barton assaulted the victim by grabbing her around the throat.

It was determined that Barton is a Police Officer with the City of Columbia.

Barton was arrested and transported to the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.

Jennifer Timmons with the Columbia Police Department says Barton has been suspended without pay.

Officer Jovon Tierell Bonneau Arrested for DUI

A weekend traffic crash led to the drunken-driving arrest of a Charleston police officer and a felony drug charge for a man in the car his pickup crashed into, authorities said Monday.

Jovon Tierell Bonneau, 28, who has been a Charleston police officer since June 2010, was arrested early Sunday after he stumbled and swayed during a field-sobriety test in North Charleston, an incident report stated.

A breath test later indicated that his blood-alcohol content was 0.19 percent, according to the document. That's more than twice the legal driving limit of 0.08 percent.

When North Charleston police officers searched the car that Bonneau's truck hit, they found 20 small bags of methamphetamine, they said. Lashaun Q. White, 32, of Valcour Road on Johns Island, was arrested on a charge of possession with intent to distribute meth.

It was the first arrest in South Carolina for both men, according to the State Law Enforcement Division.

Bonneau was placed on unpaid leave, Charleston police spokesman Charles Francis said. He was off duty and in his own vehicle at the time of the wreck, Francis said.

His driver's license was suspended.

The events leading to the arrests started about 2:42 a.m. Sunday, as a North Charleston police officer worked an off-duty job at an IHOP restaurant. The officer reported seeing Bonneau's Dodge Ram rear-end a Toyota Corolla at a traffic light at Ashley Phosphate and Mazyck roads.

The Toyota's driver, 35-year-old Shanta Nelson of Betsy Kerrison Parkway on Johns Island, and the passenger, White, were hurt. Paramedics took them to Roper Hospital Diagnostics & ER Northwoods.

Bonneau was uninjured and steered his truck into the IHOP parking lot, police said. As he completed a crash report, the officer reported that he smelled alcohol on Bonneau's breath. Bonneau's eyes were red, and he often lost his balance while performing tasks during the sobriety test, according to the report.

Bonneau told the officer that he had two drinks at a bar "up the road," the paperwork stated.

Before he took the breath test at police headquarters, according to the report, Bonneau fell asleep. An officer said he awakened Bonneau so he could answer questions for a jail booking report.

Bonneau, a resident of Marinella Drive in Goose Creek, spent seven hours at the Charleston County jail before he was freed on bail.

Meanwhile, officers said they searched the Toyota while preparing to have it towed.

They found the small bags of meth in the glove compartment, police said. They weighed 6.7 grams, or about a quarter of an ounce.

At the hospital, White acknowledged that drugs were his, an incident report stated, and said that his girlfriend had nothing to do with it.

Officer William Norton Arrested for DUI

A North Myrtle Beach police officer was arrested and charged with DUI on Friday, according to city spokesman Pat Dowling.

William Henry Norton, a K-9 officer, was booked just before noon on Friday and released hours later on a $1,000 bond, Dowling said.

Norton was not on duty when this happened, but he was arrested while driving his patrol car, Dowling added. K-9 officers are allowed to take these cars home.

South Carolina Highway Patrol troopers responded to a crash on Brighton Avenue, near Norton's home. A neighbor told WMBF News Norton had driven the patrol car into a median, wedging against a palm tree.

Norton is on restricted administrative assignment, or "desk duty," Dowling said. Norton's car, badge, and equipment have been turned over to department, and he does not have law enforcement authority.

This incident has prompted an official investigation by the North Myrtle Beach Police Department.

Under the South Carolina Penal Code, a DUI charge does not just apply to alcohol or illegal drugs. Prescription drugs and some over the counter drugs can also net an impaired driving charge from authorities.

Officer Jason Green Arrested for Domestic Violence

A City of Columbia police officer has been arrested and charged with criminal domestic violence.

Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said deputies responded to an assault call at 2438 Willow Oak Drive around 1 a.m. Wednesday.

According to police, Jason Green, 32, and his wife were involved in a verbal altercation when Green grabbed her by throat and shoved her.

Sheriff Lott said officers discovered Green is a City of Columbia police officer while investigating.

Green was arrested and taken to Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.


A judge granted Green a $5,242.50 personal recognizance bond Wednesday morning. He is not permitted to have contact with the victim directly or indirectly and he cannot go within 1000 feet of victim's home, work, school, or place of worship.

According to a Columbia Police Department spokesperson, Green has been suspended without pay.

Sgt. Michael Hames Charged with Destroying Evidence

A police officer with the city of Lyman has been arrested and charged with altering and destroying evidence.

The State Law Enforcement Division arrested Michael Gerald Hames, 44, of Lyman, and charged him with misconduct in office and obstructing justice.

According to warrants obtained from SLED, Hames, a Sgt. with the Police Department, "knowingly, willfully and dishonestly committed misconduct in office in the form of malfeasance and nonfeasance by altering and then destroying evidence related to an active criminal investigation thereby failing to properly and faithfully discharge the duties of his office." Between August 12 and August 16, 2013, the warrants further state that Hames knowingly and willfully altered and destroyed evidence related to an active investigation with the attempt to impede, obstruct, interfere with, or influence the proper administration of the criminal justice function.

Officials with the town of Lyman said that Hames has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation by SLED. He is currently being held on $20,000 at the Spartanburg County Detention Center.  

Officer Andrew Alan Haney Charged with Sending Obscene Material to Child

A West Columbia police officer was charged in federal court after sending explicit photos of himself to a 13-year-old girl in Iowa last month, authorities said.

Andrew Alan Haney, 30, was charged with interstate commerce of obscene materials to a person under 16, according to court records. He was appointed a public defender.

According to court records, Haney was involved in chatting with the girl in Polk County, Iowa from Sept. 22-28. The girl said she met Haney through a social media website.

Authorities identified Haney as a suspect after he sent the girl a photo with his police badge with the state seal visible in the photo, according to court records.

West Columbia Police Chief Dennis Tyndall said Haney was fired.

Tyndall said the situation was an "embarrassment" for the department. 

Haney was being held in the Lexington County Detention Center awaiting a bond hearing.

Former Officer Bennie Hand Charged with Sexually Abusing Vulnerable Adult

A former Wellford police officer was arrested Tuesday by state agents after they said he sexually and physically abused a vulnerable adult.

The State Law Enforcement Division said between July 1, 2012 and Jan. 1, 2013, 32-year-old Bennie Hand sexually battered and physically abused the victim, who suffers from a mental condition impairing her from providing her own care or protecting herself.

During the abuse, SLED said Hand worked as a Wellford police officer.

Wellford Mayor Thomas Watson said the city received a complaint about the allegations made against Hand and called in SLED to investigate. He was placed on administrative leave when the investigation began and was fired following his arrest, Watson said.

Hand was arrested on charges of misconduct in office, criminal sexual conduct third degree and abuse of a vulnerable adult.

State agents were called in to investigate at the request of Wellford police and the 13th Circuit Solicitor's Office will prosecute the case.

Hand is being held at the Spartanburg County Detention Center.

Former Deputy Robert Grimsley Sentenced to Five Years for Stalking

A 38-year-old former law enforcement officer in South Carolina was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to stalking and assaulting his girlfriend and trying to tamper with evidence against him.

The Morning News of Florence reports a judge on Tuesday ordered ex-Dillon County deputy Robert Grimsley to spend seven years in prison, with the final two years of the sentence suspended if he completes three years of probation.

Authorities say Grimsley was charged with criminal domestic violence in November after grabbing his girlfriend in the home they shared in Latta and kicking her.

A month later, investigators say Grimsley violated a restraining order and asked an officer working the case to switch or destroy blood samples that were collected.

Former Officer Wilbert Jamison Fined in Child Abuse Case

Judge Cole sentenced Wilbert Jamison -- a former Gaffney police officer -- to 90 days in jail or a $500 fine plus one year of probation including 50 hours of community service.

He faced up to 10 years in prison.

Jamison has opted to pay the fine and walked out of court practically a free man.

The victim's mother -- Jamison's ex-wife -- said she is just glad the ordeal is over and glad her son did not have to testify during a trial.

In an exclusive on-camera interview with News Channel 7 after the plea hearing, Jamison said he never hit the boy with a belt as the victim alleged in Jan. 2009.

"I did make him run laps in the backyard as punishment because he had gotten in trouble at school for stealing," said Jamison. "But no abuse took place. I never hand-cuffed him and whipped him with a belt. I feel like this is just going to hurt children who really are victims of abuse."

Jamison says he agreed to plead guilty to the assault and battery high and aggravated charge because "you never know what a jury is going to do."

Sgt Jason Rampey Charged with Sexual Exploitation of Minor

A former Greenville police officer has been arrested and accused of encouraging a 16-year-old girl to send him nude photos of herself.

Sgt. Jason Rampey, with the Greenville Police Department, said that 28-year-old Malcolm Maurice Fuller, of Greenville, was charged with sexual exploitation of a minor and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Rampey said that Fuller was fired Dec. 30, 2009, because of an internal investigation. He said that Fuller had been with the police department since 2008.

Police Chief Teri Wilfong said that none of the activity occurred while Fuller was on duty.

According to arrest warrant, Fuller obtained the photos on Dec. 13, 2009. The State Law Enforcement Division said that the girl's family saw some photos on her phone and called police.

Fuller was being held at the Greenville County Detention Center.

Major Walt Floyd & Lt Don Repec Terminated for Making Offensive Sexual Remarks

North Myrtle Beach officials terminated the department of public safety’s interim director and highest-ranking officer in the city's public safety department, along with a lieutenant who is the head of its detective division following an investigation into allegations the two were heard making offensive sexual remarks about female co-workers and a female crime victim who is a minor.

Police Major Walt Floyd and Lieutenant Don Repec, were terminated Thursday, Feb. 4, according to a news release from the city’s public information officer Nicole Aiello.

Thursday's firings came just days after the men were placed on paid administrative leave following publication of recordings made by former public safety officer Lieutenant Randy Fisher in a local newspaper.

Smithson said during a press conference on Feb. 1 that Floyd and Repec had been asked to leave the workplace until he can talk with them and actions regarding them would be “taken as soon as the investigation is complete.”

The firings are just another chapter in the latest shakeup in the department that has been in turmoil in recent weeks in the midst of allegations of improper behavior, the possible cover-up of a criminal domestic violence case and the suspension and demotion of the department’s director.

William Bailey, the former director of the department of public safety, was placed on paid administrative leave in December following his admission he lied to the city manager about the theft of his city-issued handgun. In January he was demoted to lieutenant and placed on two weeks of unpaid suspension.

Whether he will return to work this week was left open by the city pending an investigation by SLED. The state’s investigative unit was asked by Smithson in January to investigate allegations made against Bailey regarding allegations he covered up a criminal domestic violence case. There is currently no word as to when SLED will investigate the alleged cover-up.

“Once William Bailey’s two-week unpaid suspension is completed, he will remain on leave until the city manager receives a response from SLED as to whether or not they will review the allegations that Mr. Bailey interfered with a charge against a local citizen. If SLED decides to conduct an investigation, Mr. Bailey will remain on leave until the city manager reviews the results of the investigation. Any leave taken at the conclusion of the unpaid suspension will be charged to Mr. Bailey’s accrued vacation leave balance or taken as leave without pay,” Aiello said on Tuesday afternoon.

Capt. Rick Buddelmeyer is now serving as interim director. He is a 23-year veteran of the department.

During a press conference called by City Council on Feb 1, Mayor Marilyn Hatley said City Council was “dismayed, disgusted and sickened at the content and graphic descriptions made by some of the city’s public safety employees.”

The Sun News, the local, daily newspaper, has recently written a series of news stories based on tape recordings made by Fisher who was forced to resign by city officials in November 2009.

The North Myrtle Beach Times does not have a copy of the tapes.

Hatley laid the blame for the public safety departments problem on Fisher, saying she was “disappointed and disturbed” Fisher would allow “these things to happen while he idly sat by.” She said Fisher recorded the conversations then “failed to go through the proper channels to bring these comments to light.”

During Smithson’s statement he also chastised Fisher saying he should have reported the problems in public safety but didn’t.

“I followed my chain of command in reporting what I knew. I went to Major Floyd and talked to him. I did not go to Bailey because some of the problems concerned him and his actions in the department. When Floyd took no action I went to see the assistant city manager Steve Thomas,” Fisher said.

Fisher said in his conversations with Thomas he reported his concerns about unethical behavior and unfair treatment of some employees.

In a letter to Thomas dated Aug. 26, 2009, Fisher outlined his meetings with Thomas which began on June 2. In the Aug. 26 letter he wrote, “I have many recorded conversations through the years saved on my computer.”

On Jan. 21, after his resignation, Fisher, in a letter to Smithson, offered to let him hear the tapes but requested to have a third party present. Smithson declined the invitation.

Fisher said he went through his chain of command and believed Thomas would follow-up on his complaints.

The city attorney has begun meeting with female officers and administrative staff in public safety to ensure no unfavorable treatment has occurred or is occurring now. In addition, sexual harassment and supervisory training, which had been scheduled last year, will be held in the next few weeks.

Thomas, who is in charge of training programs for city employees, said last fall he began talking with a company who provides training for the city about sexual and anti-harassment training and effective supervisory training.

“We have both of those sessions scheduled for several days in February,” said Thomas.

The city has also engaged the services of a consulting group who is currently interviewing public safety officers and others about the problems in the department.
Aiello says The Institute for Public Service and Policy Research will be assisting the city with an assessment of the public safety department.

“They will be here this week to interview employees in order to address any concerns they may wish to express. Further meetings will be scheduled as soon as possible to ensure that all employees have the opportunity to participate in this process,” she said.

Two Officers Suspended After Secret Conversation Was Printed in Paper

North Myrtle Beach City Manager John Smithson announced Monday the suspension of two officers after secretly-recorded conversations were printed in The Sun News. The subject matter in this story may not be suitable for some readers.

The recordings, taped by a former NMB officer, contains what city leaders call derogatory and sexist remarks made by two employees of the Public Safety department.

Mayor Marilyn Hatley, Smithson, and council members held a news conference to address the recorded comments.

Those recordings were made by former North Myrtle Beach Lt. Randy Fisher, who says he was forced to resign from the department at the end of 2009.

The city leaders announced that the two men heard on the audio recordings, Major Walt Floyd and Lt. Don Repec have been placed on administrative leave with pay pending an investigation by the city manager's office.

In one of the recordings, Fisher, Floyd and Repec are heard discussing an incident where a 14-year-old girl and her 17-year-old boyfriend were found naked in a bed.

Fisher can be heard saying the boy violated the law and should be charged with criminal sexual conduct.

Floyd then says, "I'm not going to do a damn thing to him."

Floyd continues by saying the girl's parents should do a better job of raising her and that she should take pills so she won't get pregnant "because she can't take care of a child."

He then goes on to say women "like that" should be required to be neutered to prevent unwanted pregnancies.

"If you're not able to take care of a consequential responsibility, then you shouldn't be having sex at that time," Lt. Repec is heard saying.

Repec then goes on to suggest the 14-year-old and 17-year-old should perform sexual acts other than intercourse to prevent pregnancy. NewsChannel 15 has chosen not to print what Repec said because of the graphic language used.

Floyd was serving as interim public safety director in the wake of former Public Safety Director William Bailey's suspension, investigation, and eventual demotion to lieutenant over lies he told after the theft of his service weapon from his truck.

Mayor Hatley said she and the council are dismayed, disgusted, and sickened by the content and graphic descriptions made by some of the city's public safety employees in the recordings.

She said they do not excuse the behavior, but Hatley says she's disappointed and disturbed that Fisher would allow these things to happen while he idly sat by, only reporting them after his termination.

Hatley said as a public safety officer, it was Fisher's duty and responsibility to bring the information to the city manager, and he did not do so.

When reached for comment Monday afternoon, Fisher said he did try to bring to light the issues he felt existed, by meeting with the assistant city manager in June of 2009. Fisher said he also wrote a letter in August and told the assistant city manager he had the tapes.

Fisher said nothing was ever done.

When asked if Fisher tried to bring to light the issues, city spokeswoman Nicole Aiello wrote in an e-mail:

"Mr. Fisher did bring some issues, like his allegations of favoritism, to management's attention, but Mr. Fisher did not bring anything along the lines of what was heard on The Sun News website to management. Mr. Fisher had a duty to bring these conversations and serious issues to the City Manager, and he did not do so."

Captain Rick Buddelmeyer has been named interim public safety director.

Officer Jeffery Gore Arrested for Domestic Violence

A Conway Police Officer has been suspended without pay, after being arrested for criminal domestic violence.

Senior Master Officer Jeffrey Gore was arrested by Horry County Police yesterday at his home outside of Loris. Conway City Administrator Bill Graham says Gore will remain off the job until his case is resolved and an internal investigation is completed.

Graham says the arrest stems from an incident involving Gore's former girlfriend on Saturday.

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Officer Nick Petrone Accused of Firing Weapon During Argument with Wife

Bond was set Thursday morning at $1,500 for an Horry County police officer charged a day earlier with criminal domestic violence after being accused of firing a shot during an argument with his wife.

Nick Petrone, 40, was charged Wednesday after being taken into custody on Sunday, police said. The bond requires cash or surety before Petrone will be released from J. Reuben Long Detention Center.

Petrone, a patrol officer who has been an employee of the department since February 2006, has been suspended without pay, according to Horry County spokeswoman Lisa Bourcier.

An Horry County police officer was arrested on criminal domestic violence charges after being accused of firing a shot during an argument with his wife.

Patrol Officer Nick Petrone was booked into J. Reuben Long Detention Center Wednesday, and a bond hearing for him is pending, according to jail officials.

Petrone, 40, an employee of the department since February 2006, has been suspended without pay, according to Horry County spokeswoman Lisa Bourcier.

An Horry County police officer was arrested today and charged with criminal domestic violence.

A statement released by Horry County Public Information Officer Lisa Bourcier says Patrol Officer Nick Petrone has been booked into J. Reuben Long Detention Center on the charge.

Petrone, 40, who worked for the department since February 2006, also has been suspended without pay, according Bourcier.

Authorities say a South Carolina police officer was charged with criminal domestic violence after firing a gun and threatening his wife in their coastal home.

Investigators say 40-year-old Horry County police officer Nick Petrone was arrested Sunday after he became angry with his wife because she wouldn't hang out with his friends, breaking bar stools in his garage and damaging the door.

Authorities say Petrone and his wife kept arguing and he grabbed a gun and walked outside. She called 911 after hearing a gunshot.

On Sunday, police said Petrone grabbed a loaded semi-automatic handgun and fired a shot while friends were at his home, making his wife afraid for her life after the two argued in their Loris-area home, according to the arrest warrant.

Petrone denied the allegations when interviewed by Horry County police.

An incident report said Petrone was put in emergency protective custody immediately after the incident and was taken Sunday to Conway Medical Center to be evaluated.

Police said Petrone and his wife argued after she went inside to cook dinner, while he was drinking and hanging out in the garage with friends.

She told officers that Petrone became upset because she wasn't hanging out, and tried to talk her into coming back outside, according to the incident report.

After she told him to, "Just stop," Petrone allegedly went to the garage and began breaking bar stools and messing up the light over the pool table, according to the report.

His wife then went upstairs to hide his duty belt and his service weapon in a closet, because she was scared.

Petrone followed her to the bedroom, went to his night stand and took out a pistol, then went down the stairs, the police report stated.

His wife said she heard a shot as she was trying to leave through another exit with the children, and she said she heard Petrone say he "couldn't live like this."

She then called police.

The woman told officers that Sunday's behavior was out of character for her husband.

Police found Petrone sitting in the yard and found the pistol in his front pocket.

He told officers he made no threats to himself or his wife and did not fire his weapon.

Petrone said he only damaged his property, but did not break any laws.

He said he just went for a walk and always carries a gun when he leaves the house.

When interviewed, the children said they heard a gunshot.

Judicial Services Officer Julis Wardley Arrested for Assaulting Woman

Investigators with the Richland County Sheriff's Department say Judicial Services Officer Julius R. Wardley was arrested Wednesday after deputies say he assaulted a female victim.

Deputies say they responded to Providence Northeast Hospital where they found a woman with several facial injuries. At that point, Sheriff Leon Lott ordered an investigation, and deputies found that Wardley had assaulted the victim during an altercation.

Lott says Wardley was terminated after the investigation.

Wardley was detained at the Richland County jail but the jail's website no longer lists him as a detainee.