Latest news with #MarlboroCountySheriff'sOffice
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Marlboro County deputies arrest daughter of McColl mayor on assault charge
MARLBORO COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — The daughter of McColl Mayor Robert Outlaw was arrested on multiple charges including assault, the Marlboro County Sheriff's Office said Thursday. Kelly Outlaw was charged with third-degree assault and battery and unlawful communication. She was booked into the Marlboro County Detention Center, where she awaits a bond hearing. The incident stemmed from a dispute that started on a Facebook news post and escalated into a series of threatening messages sent through Facebook Messenger, totaling 40 messages, including audio messages regarding the 'McColl town government disputes,' according to the sheriff's office. Outlaw was apprehended at her residence, and while she was being apprehended, she allegedly threatened to harm the victim in front of the investigators arresting her. The town has seen its share of controversy in the past year, with former Mayor George Garner — who was being investigated by SLED — dying in a car crash less than a week after the town's entire police department resigned. Early last week, the town appeared to have a new police chief with the appointment of Billy Stubbs. However, days later, Stubbs backed out. Stubbs was on the town's police force from March 2011 until July 2020 and has worked for the Marlboro County Sheriff's Office since January 2021, according to employment records from the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy. * * * Caleb is a digital producer at News13. Caleb joined the team in January 2023 after graduating from Liberty University. He is from Northern Virginia. Follow Caleb on X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘I don't blame him': McColl's police chief candidate backs out
MCCOLL, S.C. (WBTW) — After McColl Mayor Robert Outlaw announced Billy Stubbs as the town's new chief on Monday, the new appointee said on Wednesday that he will no longer be accepting the position. Stubbs was on the town's police force from March 2011 until July 2020 and has worked for the Marlboro County Sheriff's Office since January 2021, according to employment records from the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy. 'Due to some issues that have arisen, I will not be accepting the chief position,' Stubbs said in a Facebook post. 'I try to be a man of my word but expect others to do the same. I want to thank Robert Outlaw for the support and consideration for the job, and with heavy heart I have to rescind my employment for the chief position. I will always do anything I can for the town and the citizens that I love.' Outlaw responded via Facebook Thursday morning, saying, 'Wow!!! I'm really heartbroken on this one. To the citizens of McColl, as your mayor, everything was worked out. I was so excited Mr. Stubbs was coming to be our chief. But once again, two councilmen made sure Robert Outlaw didn't get what he wanted.' 'I'm tired of people smiling in my face and putting a knife in my back,' he continued. 'This is like the third or fourth time our two councilmen have made sure I didn't get what I thought was best for this town. It took me forever to even get the police department in the 2025 budget. Honestly, this is twice that the same councilman has gave Mr. Stubbs cold feed and honestly I don't blame him for not coming to work for us. But that being said, there's a good police chief out there and I'm not giving up till I find him or her.' Outlaw made the initial announcement on Monday, saying, 'After 74 long days being your mayor . . . I'm so happy to announce Billy Stubbs has accepted. His starting date will be June 9th. It's been [a long] journey.' Stubbs would have replaced former chief Bob Hale, who, along with the rest of the department, resigned in November 2024. Less than a week later, former Mayor George Garner died in a two-vehicle crash. Count on News13 for updates. * * * Jordan White is a Digital Producer at News13. She joined the News13 team in August 2024. Jordan, a Myrtle Beach native, graduated from St. James High School in Murrells Inlet and is a graduate of Coker University. Follow Jordan on Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of her work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Yahoo
Ex-McColl police chief claims former mayor forced his resignation in federal lawsuit
MCCOLL, S.C. (WBTW) — Xzavier Williams' tumultuous seven-month tenure with the McColl Police Department — which included a demotion from chief to corporal — ended because of chronic harassment and micro-management, by former Mayor George Garner, according to a federal lawsuit. Williams, who was hired by the late Mayor George Garner III in November 2022 to lead the agency — was fired June 13, a week after his demotion, the 11-page complaint lodged Thursday in U.S. District Court's Florence division alleges. 'While on medical leave, Plaintiff's supervisor, the Mayor, tried to discipline Plaintiff and force Plaintiff's resignation,' the lawsuit says. According to Williams' complaint, town officials visited his home during his leave to 'intimidate or harass' him and his family over use of a police-issued vehicle. McColl-lawsuitDownload Williams, who is Black, said in the complaint that Garner fired other police officers on racial grounds 'without legitimate non-discriminatory business reason.' Garner died in a two-vehicle crash on Nov. 26. Williams alleges Garner 'treated him differently based on his race because the Mayor perceived the African-American employees as officers who should obey his requests to give unlawful preferential treatment to citizens close to the Mayor.' He also alleges that Garner wanted to replace Williams with one of his own family members, and created abnormal working conditions that included: Ordering Williams to take police vehicles into Bennettsville for maintenance work and then blaming him for speeding in response to a call Assigning Williams two uncertified officers Interfering with WIlliams' hiring preferences Requiring WIlliams to work as the only certified officer Monday through Friday with no night shift pay, sometimes putting in 15 hours a day but getting paid for eight Discipline for not responding to calls even if the Marlboro County Sheriff's Office dispatched deputies Firing selected officers to leave Williams working alone 'Plaintiff informed Mayor Protem Brian Blue of his feelings of working in a hostile work environment; and the only response Plaintiff received was demotion and termination,' the lawsuit says. Bob Hale, who in June 2023 was hired to replace Williams, resigned in early December citing 'repeated acts of personal harassment' and 'personal attacks' on his character. He cited 'the overall creation of a hostile work environment perpetuated by a specific Councilman,' adding that he has experienced 'unwarranted and malicious behavior aimed at undermining my integrity and leadership.' In a Facebook post, Hale also said a 'significant amount of money was cut from our already depleted budget by the same Councilman upon his arrival to his elected position.' He said he repeatedly asked for funding to 'modernize equipment, enhance training, and increase staffing levels' to no avail 'This lack of investment hampered our ability to operate at the standard the citizens of the Town of McColl rightfully expect and deserve,' he said in the post. 'The safety of the residents and the well-being of the officers should have been prioritized by committing the necessary resources to build a department capable of addressing the complexities of 21st-century policing. Sadly, this was not the case and the majority of my tenure as Chief of Police was spent clearing the names of my officers as well as myself, from the numerous falsehoods that were made against us.' Williams is suing for unnamed damages on grounds of racial discrimination, and violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. * * * Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Yahoo
McColl drug bust turns up cocaine, fentanyl, marijuana, weapons
MCCOLL, S.C. (WBTW) — A Marlboro County Sheriff's Office investigation led to the seizure of counterfeit money, drugs, a firearm and multiple arrests, authorities said Saturday. Investigators said it's all part of 'Operation Clean Sweep,' an ongoing effort around the McColl area. A drug warrant served Friday night at the Red Bluff Road home of Robert Keith Locklear turned up the following: 1.2 grams of fentanyl 34 grams of methamphetamine 3.19 grams of cocaine 2.17 grams of marijuana methadone wafer tablets Smith & Wesson .380 firearm Locklear is charged with trafficking methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, simple possession of marijuana, possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime. Two other men were arrested, authorities said: Kevin Falaga is facing charges of trafficking methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, simple possession of marijuana and possession of a Schedule II controlled substance. John Kevin Hopkins is facing charges of trafficking methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, simple possession of marijuana, possession of a Schedule II controlled substance and possession of counterfeit money. Chief Deputy Larry Turner said more arrests are likely in the coming weeks as 'Operation Clean Sweep' continues. 'These dealers have been unable to evade the administration and dedicated efforts of these deputies and investigators,' he said in a statement. * * * Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
