Beaufort County Deputy Suspended After Gun Incident with Teens

BEAUFORT COUNTY, S.C. — The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an incident involving an off-duty deputy following a disturbance call on Sunday evening.

At approximately 6:47 p.m., deputies responded to reports of a disturbance in a Hilton Head neighborhood. Upon arrival, they found an off-duty deputy involved in the incident. The deputy was immediately suspended without pay and had his badge and issued weapons taken by command staff, according to Lt. Daniel Allen.

The sheriff’s office has requested an investigation by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) to determine any potential criminal violations. “Deputies are held to a higher standard and must follow all Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office policies,” Allen stated.

Video footage circulating on social media appears to show the deputy aiming his firearm at three teenagers. Though graphic language was removed from the video, viewer discretion is advised due to its disturbing content. Neighbors reported that the deputy was called to the scene, but details leading to his involvement remain unclear.

In the video, the situation escalates as the deputy points his gun at the teens, who plead for someone to call the police, claiming, “I am the police,” in response. One grandmother of a teen, Betty Habersham, expressed her distress, stating, “When I heard the video, that’s when I got like really upset… this is Beaufort County. Why is this happening to these children?”

The sheriff’s office has stated that additional investigations will continue, including an Internal Affairs probe that may take time due to the number of interviews required. Their decision to suspend the deputy follows their commitment to uphold accountability.

Although the deputy’s identity has not been disclosed, the sheriff’s office emphasized that they will release it at a later time. They request anyone with further information or videos to contact Internal Affairs Investigator Lt. Draisen at 843-255-3403.