Fox Carolina – by Joseph Pereira
HONEA PATH, SC (FOX Carolina) – Two Honea Path police officers accused of using excessive force during a traffic stop in November have been fired.
Chief David King said in a release that his department had no option other than to terminate Robert Joshua Shaw and John Bell based on information provided by SLED and after meeting with the solicitor’s office.
The termination stems from an incident on Nov. 14, 2014 when a man failed to stop for police and a chase went out of the town limits on Highway 76.
King said officers reported that the driver, who was identified as BJ Hatcher, exited the vehicle armed with an object that appeared to be a knife. He said several items including a knife were placed into evidence.
The officers said they used force to disarm and restrain Hatcher, who had to be taken to the hospital.
King said the following day, he received numerous questions and allegation about the use of excessive force. He said the procedure for allegations like that is to contact the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.
He said the evidence was turned over to SLED and their investigation is still ongoing.
King said no previous employers of either officer indicated any excessive force issues and nothing was ever reported to the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy that would raise concerns.
“He said the evidence was turned over to SLED and their investigation is still ongoing.”
Which will promptly find that they acted ‘within departmental guidelines’, no doubt.
After which, the pigs in question will promptly be rehired.
Or they’ll head to Albuquerque, which seems to be a rehiring posts for cops with abuse or murder records….
.
Highly likely.
Stop the train, I wanna get off!
Firing them doesn’t silve the problem
Making them personally responsible for their crimes will
Time the rules are changed , even if it’s by the power of the people’s arms
And by arms I don’t mean appendage
Don’t worry, boys. There’s a police department in the next town that’s looking for a few lunatics.