The emergency phone call that prompted state Rep. Wallace Scarborough's arrest Saturday night refers to "an irate customer" who fired a gun at two SCE&G workers.

"Someone shot a gun at you?" asks a Charleston police dispatcher on the tape.

"Yes ma'am, that's correct," answers Barry Connelly, one of the South Carolina Electric and Gas linemen.

"We have officers on the way, OK?" she says.

Scarborough was arrested late Saturday on two counts of assault with intent to kill. Under state law, if he is indicted on felony charges he "must be suspended immediately without pay" from his Statehouse position.

A day after Scarborough, 47, was released from jail on a personal recognizance bond, both sides in the dispute did a bit of finger-pointing.

The James Island Republican said Monday that his 9 mm handgun accidentally discharged into the ground as he was walking, barefoot, away from the men, his back to them, he said.

He also said he initially feared for his life, thinking the men might be burglars.

"I did not take a shot at them," he said. "If I wanted to shoot at them, they'd be dead."

The utility said its workers acted correctly and had every right to enter the backyard of Scarborough's parents' Crescent neighborhood home in West Ashley to inspect power lines after Saturday's storm. About two-thirds of the neighborhood was in the dark, the company said.

"They identified themselves to Mr. Scarborough as SCE&G employees and explained why they were in the area," the company said in a statement.

"Nevertheless, Mr. Scarborough threatened our linemen with a weapon, which was discharged as our linemen were attempting to move out of the area."

Scarborough insists the workers are to blame for escalating the tension becausethey entered the yard unannounced. At the time of the incident, the home had electricity and Scarborough was alone watching a movie, he said.

He said he thought the lights he saw in the backyard might be burglars casing the house.

His fears grew when the two workers refused his request to show proper ID, he said, adding that they kept him blinded by shining flashlights in his eyes from about 20 to 30 feet away.

The two utility workers declined to comment Monday.

"My understanding is that they had badges," SCE&G spokesman Eric Boomhower said. "They were not asked to show the badges, but they were in full uniform."

Scarborough said the glare from the flashlights prevented him from seeing what the workers were wearing. "I couldn't tell you what they looked like. I couldn't tell you anything about them," he said Monday.

The company said it has a right to access private property to inspect power lines and read electric meters. When customers create an account, they agree to provide SCE&G employees with reasonable access to the facilities, Boomhower said.

Knocking on every door simply isn't practical, the company contends.

Scarborough hired former U.S. Attorney Bart Daniel on Monday to help John Graham Altman represent him.

Scarborough said the police call is inaccurate and represents an overreaction that caused him to spend more than 12 hours in custody.

"The lady behind the counter (at the county Detention Center) said, 'Oh, we got a state representative now, this is going to be fun,'?" he said.

Scarborough holds a concealed weapons permit issued by the State Law Enforcement Division. He has no criminal record.

The Charleston Police arrest report says no drugs or alcohol were involved.

The political implications for Scarborough are varied. He has represented James Island and Folly Beach in the Legislature since 2001 and faces Democrat Eugene Platt in November.

Platt declined to comment Monday and referred questions to Charleston County Democratic Party Chairman Waring Howe Jr.

Howe said the incident raises questions about Scarborough's ability to serve after his display of what Howe called "erratic and extreme behavior."

"It speaks to his judgment," Howe said. "Once he realized who those people were, then the bullying and the pointing of the gun should have ceased."

Howe asked authorities to be thorough in investigating the case.

"When somebody ever fires a gun and they get arrested for it, 90 percent of the time they claim it went off accidentally," he said.

Ninth Circuit Solicitor Ralph Hoisington, a Republican, said it could be a week or two before the arrest warrant is forwarded to his office.

"Very often, things get misconstrued in the dark," Hoisington said. "Sometimes, in the light of day, things look different."

Reach Schuyler Kropf at skropf@postandcourier.com or 937-5551. Reach Noah Haglund at nhaglund@postandcourier.com or 937-5550.

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