Ex-South Carolina Trooper Pleads Guilty to Violent Rights Violation

CHARLESTON, S.C. – A former South Carolina Highway Patrol trooper has copped to using excessive force during an arrest, a disturbing incident that’s sparked outrage and calls for justice.

John B. Sawyer, the disgraced officer, admitted that on May 26, 2006, he needlessly pummeled a suspect’s head and neck area after apprehending him in Sumter County following a high-speed chase on Interstate 95. Sawyer’s actions were deemed to have violated federal law and the constitutional rights of the man he detained.

“The overwhelming majority of police officers uphold their duties with dignity and professionalism,” Grace Chung Becker, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, stated. “Yet when an officer abuses power like Sawyer did, the feds won’t back down in enforcing the law.”

Walt Wilkins, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina, echoed the sentiment, saying, “This is a critical case, as the public entrusts law enforcement to protect and serve. When trust is betrayed, it’s not just the victim who suffers; fellow officers are stained as well. We’re committed to prosecuting those who tarnish the badge and the good work of honest officers.”

The investigation was spearheaded by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alston C. Badger and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Alan Gray, both former members of the Civil Rights Division, led the prosecution.

As Sawyer faces the consequences of his actions, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of holding law enforcement to the highest standards of conduct.