Seller’s Former Police Officer Arrested on Assault Charge
In a shocking development, a former police officer from Sellers, Stephen Sutton, was arrested on Saturday for allegedly swinging a knife at a person. The incident was confirmed by authorities in Marion County, South Carolina.
Officer’s Troubled Past
Sutton was released from Marion County Detention Center after posting a $2,500 bond on his second-degree assault and battery charge, suggesting a significant background of previous stints and alleged rule violations at various law enforcement agencies in the Pee Dee region since 2012. Sutton has held positions at the Bennettsville Police Department, Darlington County Prison Farm, Marion Police Department, Marion County Detention Center, and W. Glenn Campbell Detention Center in Darlington.
Allegations of Misconduct
The ex-officer most recently served at the Lake View Police Department, from where he was released following accusations of employing excessive force while conducting a search on a suspect on March 4. According to state Criminal Justice Academy records, Sutton then failed to inform another member of the department about the incident or complete a use of force report.
Moreover, Sutton faced dismissal from the W. Glenn Campbell Detention Center twice, first in 2012 due to an agency policy violation not involving misconduct, and again in 2017 for “insubordination refusing to search an inmate.
Further Misconduct Allegations
Further controversy ensued when Sutton resigned from the Marion Police Department in 2019 following a domestic violence arrest. In 2021, the Bennettsville Police Department investigated the former officer over suspicions that he may not have been pursuing a suspect before a patrol vehicle crash.
There were questions about whether Sutton had initiated a traffic stop after a review of video footage from the patrol car and radio traffic, and concerning his failure to obtain surveillance footage from the location where it happened. Sutton left the Bennettsville department in December 2022 following these investigations.
Policing and Accountability
This ongoing series of incidents calling into question Sutton’s conduct further highlights the critical need for transparency and accountability within law enforcement agencies. It is a grim reminder that maintaining public trust remains of utmost importance and that any individuals found guilty of misconduct within these institutions should be held accountable under the law.
