Hampton County Sheriff on Tasers

In the Lowcountry, the investigation continues in the case of a Hampton County man who died shortly after being tasered by law enforcement.  It happened earlier this month, when Hampton County EMS called on sheriff's deputies to assist with a man who was being combative and in a mental status.

James Ford wouldn't cooperate with deputies, either, forcing them to tase him.  Ford died on the way to the hospital.

Wednesday Lowcountry Reporter Holly Bounds sat down with the Hampton County Sheriff who says tasers are a vital tool to their department, but one they don't use lightly.

 

It's a weapon more officers in our area are learning to use.  And most, like Hampton County Sheriff T.C. Smalls, know it as a last resort before having to pull the real trigger.  But in his rural county, it's sometimes the best backup help in the most serious situations.

"A lot of times with the size of the department we have and the way things are now, a lot of times deputies will be faced with a lot of stuff.  And we find that tasers are a useful tool that help us out a whole lot....like that third party, third man,” Smalls said.

While its creators claim the taser is the ultimate non-lethal protection, some argue the weapon is deadly.  And now that Smalls is dealing with a case of his own, he feels the need to address the community.

"To set the record straight and let them know exactly because any time an incident happens you're going to have the right side and then you're going to have their side,” Smalls said.  “So I think at some time here in the near future we're going to have a meeting with citizens down there to let them know exactly what took place and to let them know exactly what happened,” he added.

This case is still being investigated by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and we'll be sure to keep you posted when the results come in.

We checked across the Lowcountry and found a lot of other tasers out there.  Besides Hampton County Sheriff's Department's 15 tasers, the Beaufort Police Department has 21.  The Jasper County Sheriff's Department has two, but the training to use them has yet to take place.  The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office does not use tasers.