State Police and FBI agents busted the mayor of Lake City in lower Florence County Wednesday afternoon. Now, he faces charges of misconduct in office and obstructing justice.

A patrol car, with Lake City Mayor Larue Alford inside, pulled into the Florence County Detention Center, just after 2:00 Wednesday afternoon. A handcuffed Alford was escorted into the jail. Earlier in the day, local, state and federal authorities surrounded his t-shirt shop, on West Main Street in Lake City and arrested him, following a 14 month long investigation.

Jencey Tettanich works next door to Alford's business and saw it all. "When I was coming back after lunch, I saw several men outside that I recognized from SLED and saw that they were going inside the Pirates T-Shirt shop to arrest the mayor." Mayor Alford is charged with misconduct in office. Florence County Police say he willfully and knowingly possessed counterfeit money, with the intent of passing it in the city. The mayor is also accused harboring a fugitive at his t-shirt shop. Authorities say he went so far as to provide the suspect with clothing, to help him hide from police. Florence County Sheriff Kenney Boone says, "We hope this sends a clear message that any criminal behavior will not be tolerated by anyone whoever it is, particularly someone who has taken an oath to uphold the law."

Lake City resident Larry Hawkins, says if there's public corruption, he wants police to stop it. "Lake City needs that to finalize some of this that's been going on. And whoever is a part, we just let the system run its course."

A spokesperson with Governor Sanford's office says, if Alford is indicted on these charges, the Governor's Legal Council can recommend to the governor that Alford be suspended from office. A bond hearing for Alford will be held Thursday morning.

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