Personal Injury Attorney in Orangeburg, SC.

ORANGEBURG, S.C. - The head of the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety commented after a former officer was charged with .

Chief Charles Austin said Friday that 35-year-old Christopher Tyler was terminated from the department on July 28, three days after the alleged incident. Austin added that the firing came due to a violation of the department’s use of force policy.

Tyler was later arrested on Aug. 25, with the South Carolina Law Enformcent Division charging him with second-degree assault. SLED noted that ODPS requested its involvement in the investigation.

“His separation from employment was based on our commitment to ensuring that every member of this department adheres to the highest standards of professionalism, accountability, and integrity,” Austin said in part.

According to warrants released by SLED, Tyler was an ODPS officer at the time of the incident on July 25.

Warrants state Tyler made an arrest and transported the arrestee to the Orangeburg County Detention Center. Once there, documents state the arrestee spit at Tyler - which led to Tyler allegedly punching them in the face and slamming them into a brick wall twice.

The alleged assault occurred while the victim was still handcuffed and their hands were behind their back, according to the warrants. It was also noted that the arrestee’s head hit the brick wall, which “could have resulted in moderate bodily injury.”

Warrants cite video footage from multiple angles as well as an admission from Tyler.

Austin said Friday that ODPS will continue to monitor the investigation and cooperate as needed.

“We recognize that incidents of this nature can impact public confidence, and we remain steadfast in our mission to serve our community with professionalism, transparency, and accountability. Our thoughts remain with everyone affected, and we will continue to uphold our responsibility to protect and serve the citizens of Orangeburg with honor and integrity,” he said.

Public court records show Tyler posted a $2,500 personal recognizance bond following his arrest. The conditions of his bond include required court appearances, requiring permission to leave the state and no contact with the victim or their family.

ORANGEBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WIS) - A school bus carrying over 40 students crashed into a home in Orangeburg County early Tuesday.

The bus had 42 students on board from Clark Middle School and Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School, the Orangeburg County School District said.

The South Carolina Highway Patrol said a 2023 Thomas bus was traveling west on Shillings Bridge Road at the time of the crash. Troopers said the driver tried turning left onto Mill Branch Road, but ran off of the road and hit a mobile home. They also said the home is currently vacant.

WIS obtained photos of the crash, showing the bus after it collided into a mobile home.

No major injuries were reported, but the school district said the bus driver, along with eighteen students, were taken to a hospital for further evaluation and have been released. All other students were checked out at school.

Victor Olivos said he was waiting for his bus when he watched the crash happen.

“It was crazy. I couldn’t understand what was happening,” Olivos said. " I was just in shock."

Olivos said the bus was running late, but he’s glad he wasn’t on board.

“God knows what would have happened. I personally feel that I was blessed,” Olivos said.

The district provided the following statement to WIS:

“Orangeburg County School District is aware of the accident involving one district school bus carrying 42 students. All students involved were assessed at the scene. The bus driver and 18 students were transported to MUSC Health Orangeburg for further evaluation. The remaining students were transported to school, where they were assessed by the school nurse. All students who were transported to the MUSC Health Orangeburg have been released to their parents/guardians.

The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our highest priority. OCSD followed all established safety protocols and procedures in responding to the accident and will continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement as the incident is investigated.

We are grateful to the first responders, law enforcement personnel, medical professionals, and district staff who responded quickly and assisted our students and driver.”

South Carolina Highway Patrol said it is still investigating the crash to determine whether the bus driver will face any citations.

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ORANGEBURG, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - Orangeburg County leaders took a first step toward pausing data center developments Thursday, advancing a one-year moratorium during a special called meeting.

Councilwoman Latisha Walker spearheaded the proposal after she said she learned of a company showing interest in building a data center off Brentwood Drive.

County leaders said no property has been purchased and no project has been officially announced, but the interest prompted action.

“When we have to act, we have to act,” She said.

Walker said her research into the potential development raised concerns.

“We just don’t know enough about the data centers as a whole. I actually conducted some research and learned that there was a company wanting to put a data center here, and doing the research, nothing was a result of anything positive. Because of that, I knew that we needed more time to be able to look at sanctions, regulations,” she said.

A moratorium is not a permanent ban but a temporary halt on things like permits.

Orangeburg is the latest South Carolina county to take a second look at data center developments.

Some Orangeburg residents said they support the move.

“For them to put a pause on it, I think it’s a good choice because we still need to get information. How will this impact our future? How will this impact our children that are coming up? They need to know how data centers work,” said Dr. Derrick James, an Orangeburg resident.

Resident Linda Jefferson said energy consumption is her primary concern.

“I’m very concerned about large data centers in our community, the resources that they are consuming, particularly the energy level. We’ll need resources, but do we need them at the expense or costs of others as they are currently being developed? That’s one of my major concerns,” Jefferson said.

Adel Nasiri, a University of South Carolina electrical electrical enineering professor, said the pattern of government action across the state stems from uncertainty about what data centers could bring.

“It’s obvious that they would be interested to take action. We need the data centers to advance our economy, but we need to plan for them. We need to plan for what they need in terms of electricity and water,” Nasiri said.

County leaders are expected to vote on a second reading of the moratorium at their next regular meeting, scheduled for Aug. 3.

ORANGEBURG, S.C. (WIS) - State leaders, national advocates, and U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn met at the Orangeburg County Conference Center Thursday to address what organizers described as a growing care crisis in South Carolina.

An estimated 34,000 people in South Carolina are stuck on a Medicaid waiver waitlist for up to five years. Speakers at the forum said the delays create devastating lapses in essential coverage.

Wilma Niel-Garrett addressed the role of insurance companies in the process.

“We have insurance companies dictating the care of our people instead of doctors,” Niel-Garrett said. “We need to get our attention and educate people on why this is happening.”

Event moderator Judi Gatson described her own experience navigating the system on behalf of her father.

“One of the issues that we had to deal with with my father is that his insurance had a lapse,” Gatson said. “They literally needed the doctor to check a box to say he has chronic conditions and to sign it. Simple things that need to be removed from the system that create barriers to care.”

Advocates pointed to economic contradictions in the current system. Independent community living costs half as much as institutional nursing homes, yet private memory care for dementia exceeds $6,000 a month.

Alvin King offered a pointed assessment of the access gap.

“Access to health care is not necessarily access to healing,” King said.

Caregiver Mel Moore described the personal toll of the system’s demands.

“I’m a caregiver, and I’m living it,” Moore said. “If I didn’t have a job working in disability justice that allowed me to take as much time away from work, I would have lost my job.”

Sue Berkowitz warned of downstream consequences when people lack consistent coverage.

“What does that mean? People are going to get sick,” Berkowitz said. “But when they show up to the emergency room, they’re showing up sicker. They’re showing up more expensive.”

Rep. Clyburn said legislative progress on care depends on voter engagement.

“So let’s get real,” Clyburn said. “You cannot let these elections come and go, and you did not vote, and then ask me, what can we do about this? Well, the first thing we can do is start by voting and electing people to office who are committed to making this system work forevermore.”

The event was organized by the National Domestic Workers Alliance and Care in Action. Both groups said advocating for Medicaid expansion and state-level caregiver buffer funds will remain their central focus ahead of November.

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