Current:Home > InvestSouth Carolina deputy charged with killing unarmed man and letting police dog maul innocent person-LoTradeCoin
South Carolina deputy charged with killing unarmed man and letting police dog maul innocent person
View Date:2024-12-23 21:03:55
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A deputy in South Carolina has been charged with voluntary manslaughter and assault after he fatally shot an unarmed suspect five times and his police dog mauled a different, innocent person, authorities said.
State agents arrested former Florence County deputy Treyvon Jonathan Sellers on Wednesday. He was on leave after the May 26 shooting and was fired in July after an arrest in an unrelated domestic violence case.
Sellers was awaiting a bond hearing at the Florence County jail on Thursday. Jail records did not indicate if he had a lawyer.
Sellers was chasing 43-year-old William Dwayne Rankin when Rankin crashed into a tree and ran into a nearby home near Florence, the State Law Enforcement Division said in a sworn statement.
Sellers went into the home through the back door with his police dog, which was not on a leash, and didn’t announce who he was, state agents said.
He then ordered the dog to attack without knowing who was inside. The dog bit the owner of the home, who was not involved in the chase and did not know Sellers, agents said.
While the dog attacked the homeowner, Sellers shot Rankin five times as he lay on a couch, according to the sworn statement.
Sellers failed to give the dog the right commands to stop attacking, and the homeowner was mauled for more than a minute. He suffered permanent injuries to his left arm and shoulder, state agents said.
Sellers, 29, was charged with voluntary manslaughter in Rankin’s death and faces two to 30 years in prison if convicted. He was also charged with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature in the dog attack and faces up to 20 years if convicted.
Sellers worked with the Florence County Sheriff’s Office for less than two years before he was fired, according to his training records.
veryGood! (61865)
Related
- Kansas basketball vs Michigan State live score updates, highlights, how to watch Champions Classic
- The Ravens are ready to give Dalvin Cook a shot, but there’s no telling what to expect
- Ex-Florida GOP party chair cleared in sexual assault probe, but could still face voyeurism charges
- Nuggets hand Celtics their first loss in Boston this season after 20 straight home wins
- IAT Community Introduce
- Dricus Du Plessis outpoints Sean Strickland at UFC 297 to win the undisputed middleweight belt
- S&P 500 notches first record high in two years in tech-driven run
- California officials warn people to not eat raw oysters from Mexico which may be linked to norovirus
- Fire crews on both US coasts battle wildfires, 1 dead; Veterans Day ceremony postponed
- 'Wait Wait' for January 20, 2024: With Not My Job guest David Oyelowo
Ranking
- Solawave Black Friday Sale: Don't Miss Buy 1, Get 1 Free on Age-Defying Red Light Devices
- California officials warn people to not eat raw oysters from Mexico which may be linked to norovirus
- What makes C.J. Stroud so uncommonly cool? How Texans QB sets himself apart with rare poise
- As Houthi attacks on ships escalate, experts look to COVID supply chain lessons
- Oil Industry Asks Trump to Repeal Major Climate Policies
- Kyte Baby company under fire for denying mom's request to work from preemie son's hospital
- Massachusetts man brings his dog to lotto office as he claims $4 million prize
- Sundance Film Festival turns 40
Recommendation
-
Colorado police shot, kill mountain lion after animal roamed on school's campus
-
What makes C.J. Stroud so uncommonly cool? How Texans QB sets himself apart with rare poise
-
Ohio is poised to become the 2nd state to restrict gender-affirming care for adults
-
Andrew Cuomo sues attorney general for records in sexual harassment probe that led to his downfall
-
Inter Miami's MLS playoff failure sets stage for Messi's last act, Alexi Lalas says
-
Alec Baldwin indicted on involuntary manslaughter charge again in 'Rust' shooting
-
The Ravens are ready to give Dalvin Cook a shot, but there’s no telling what to expect
-
Grand jury seated Friday to consider criminal charges against officers in Uvalde school shooting