| Former Highway Patrolman Arrested and Charged |
| A spokesperson for the State Law
Enforcement Department says former State Highway Patrolman Chad
Williams has been arrested and charged with two counts of Assault
and Battery with a High and Aggravated Nature. Williams, 28, of Orangeburg, SC who formerly ranked Lance Corporal was arrested around 5:30pm and booked at the Orangeburg County Detention Center. SLED officials say the arrest follows an investigation conducted by SLED and the First Circuit Solicitor's office. Williams was arrested after SLED agents reviewed a videotape of a July 20th traffic stop on U.S. Highway 301 in Orangeburg County made by cameras inside two patrol cruisers. SLED agent Matt Ford says on those tapes, Williams is seen pulling over a car with three people inside that was driven by Travis Johnson. Willams resigned this past weekend from the Highway Patrol. And another patrolman was suspended without pay. The actions came in the wake of the allegations they used excessive force on a suspect. State Public Safety Department spokesman Sid Gaulden says Williams (picture courtesy of Christopher Huff, T&D photographer) gave a letter of resignation last Friday. Gaulden says senior Trooper R.V. Giddens has been suspended without pay since August first. The Highway Patrol called on the State Law Enforcement Division to investigate the incident, which SLED Chief Robert Stewart says took place on or around July 20th. Last time Williams was in the news was when he was struck by lightning in the right shoulder in July after he stopped at an accident scene on a bridge. Authorities say Williams was struck while on an Interstate 95 bridge over Lake Marion near the Clarendon-Orangeburg County line. He was taken to Orangeburg Hospital and released. |