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The Marlboro County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that deputies were pursuing Garner at the time of the crash. Coroner Hardee stated that the pursuit was not related to any criminal activity but was instead an effort to “protect the well-being” of the mayor.
“When the incident occurred, Mr. Garner was being pursued by a Marlboro County deputy,” Hardee explained in a press release. “The pursuit was not related to any laws being broken. The pursuit was taking place in an effort to protect the well-being of Mr. Garner.”
Garner’s death comes amid an active investigation by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). Renee Wunderlich, a spokesperson for SLED, confirmed the investigation remains “active and ongoing” but declined to provide further details. The circumstances surrounding both the crash and the investigation have fueled speculation in the community.
The tragedy follows a tumultuous week in McColl, a town of about 2,000 residents. Just days before the accident, Police Chief Bob Hale and four officers under his command resigned, citing “unwanted and malicious behavior” from Garner and the town’s City Council.
In a November 21 Facebook post, Hale alleged that Garner and the council had subjected him and his officers to harassment and personal attacks. He also accused the council of refusing to provide necessary funding for police equipment, creating untenable working conditions for the department.
“Despite our efforts to address these issues professionally and through appropriate channels, the harassment and hostility have persisted,” Hale wrote.
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The resignations left McColl without a functioning police force. However, Garner downplayed the departures, expressing confidence that the town would recover. “I hate to see them go. They were a great group. But we’re gonna continue on,” Garner said.
Garner’s re-election earlier this month had been viewed as a sign of stability for the embattled town, but the recent events have left many residents reeling. The mayor’s strained relationship with law enforcement and the City Council had already created divisions in the community, and his untimely death adds another layer of uncertainty.
The circumstances of the crash, the nature of the SLED investigation, and the events leading up to the police resignations leave McColl with more questions than answers. As the community grapples with the loss of its mayor, the town’s leadership faces an uphill battle to restore trust and stability.
