By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-11-29 07:45:01 | Updated at 2024-11-29 10:25:37
3 hours ago
The mayor of a small South Carolina town has died in a car crash days after its entire police force quit over complaints about 'troublesome councilman'.
Mayor George Garner II, 49, of McColl, was driving along westbound Highway 34 in Mechanicsville in a 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe when he veered left of the center line and collided head on with an 18-seater Volvo tractor-trailer at around 2.50pm on November 26.
Emergency responders took both Garner and the driver of the truck to a nearby hospital where the mayor succumbed to his injuries. The condition of the driver remains unknown.
According to coroner Todd Hardee, the mayor was being pursued by a Marlboro County Deputy at the time of the crash.
However, he clarified in a Facebook post that he was not implying that any laws had been broken by the word 'pursuit' rather 'an effort to protect the well being of Mr. Garner'.
The coroner also said that he will make a ruling on the manner of death in the coming days.
Mayor pro tempore Brian Blue assured residents: 'I know its a hard time right now for our town, but us as a council and me as your mayor pro tempore, we will continue fighting for you all.'
A funeral service for the mayor will be held at 3pm on December 3 at McColl Church of God. Burial will follow at Rogers cemetery, according to WPDE.
Mayor George Garner II, 49, of McColl, was driving along westbound Highway 34 in Mechanicsville in a 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe when he suddenly traveled left of the center line and collided head on with an 18-seater Volvo tractor-trailer at around 2.50pm on November 26
The coroner also said that he will make a ruling on the manner of death in the coming days
Garner's untimely death comes within a week of Police Chief Bob Hale and the town's four officers' resignation from their respective roles
Garner's death comes within a week of Police Chief Bob Hale and the town's four officers' resignation from their respective roles.
In a lengthy statement, Hale revealed that he stepped back from being Chief due to alleged repeated harassment, personal attacks and 'the overall creation of a toxic work environment' by a town councilman.
He also claimed that the department was facing a depleted budget and appeals for funding as well as training were also being ignored after the certain councilman was elected.
'For months, I have endured unwarranted and malicious behavior aimed at undermining my integrity and leadership.
Furthermore, he added that the 'toxic atmosphere' at the department 'hindered its ability to function effectively' - despite multiple efforts to improve the situation and address the problem through 'professional channels'.
'As a law enforcement leader, my primary duty is to serve and protect the people of this community while ensuring my team can operate with dignity and respect.
'The ongoing actions of this particular Councilman have made it impossible to fulfill this mission without compromising our principles and well-being.
'I also can't help but feel that these consistent negative acts were strategically used to inhibit the continued growth and success of the department.
Emergency responders took both Garner and the driver of the truck to a nearby hospital - where the mayor succumbed to his injuries. The condition of the driver remains unknown
'This lack of investment hampered our ability to operate at the standard the citizens of the Town of McColl rightfully expect and deserve.
'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,' his statement said in part.
Another officer who resigned also said: 'At the end of the day, I have a family and when my job's constantly getting threatened and certain things are getting said, I'm not going to stay somewhere and tolerate that,' according to WYFF.
Former McColl Investigator Courtney Bulusan added to Hale's comments and said her job too had faced challenges due to the lack of equipment.
'I was on my way to a call when that one just stopped working. We need cars,' Bulusan said.
The councilman has not been named by any of the officers in their respective statements. The police team's last working day was on November 22.
Since their mass resignation, town locals have been left worried about their safety.
At the time, Resident William Groom stressed over how many could be at risk now that there is no police force.
The councilman has not been named by any of the officers in their respective statements. The police team's last working day was on November 22
A funeral service for the mayor will be held at 3pm on December 3 at McColl Church of God. Burial will follow at Rogers cemetery
'Say if someone were stabbed or shot or whatever. Without police enforcement, they would have to come from the sheriff's office in Bennettsville
'We're talking 10 or 15 minutes and someone could possibly expire in that amount of time. Without police enforcement, it's definitely a bad situation', he said.
Prior to his death, Garner had asked the Marlboro County Sheriff’s Office and other nearby agencies to help cover the town in the meantime.
He had also enlisted the help of the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division and assured residents that his office was actively working to hire a new Chief and officers, according to the New York Post.
