Last year two women, being transported by Horry County S. C. sheriff’s deputies, drowned when their van was caught in flood waters. Well… actually they drowned when the deputies driving abandoned the van. They “feared for their lives” when the water got to deep.
The women were handcuffed in a locked caged in the back of the van. The officers ran.
I was pretty shook up when I read about it then. The episode speaks to a lot… protect and serve… do lives of mentally ill people matter?… mentality of law officers in general… actually I about cried. I e mailed the Horry County Sheriff’s Department a few times, asking for information on the progress of the case, if there was to be a case, but I never expected, and did not get, an answer.
Jesus Christ! The most vulnerable in our society… The officers were in a hurry to get their human cargo somewhere, so they drove around all the “road closed” barriers and ignored the rising water til it was too last. They couldn’t unlock the van or the cage because the water got too deep… so they ran.
Charges are involuntary manslaughter and reckless homicide. Daily Beast has details.
This shook me when it happened and stayed in my mind. I’m glad the officers are being charged. The case didn’t get forgotten.