South Carolina deputies arrested for making hoax phone calls about dead bodies

Three sheriff's deputies in South Carolina faced charges of misconduct in office, criminal conspiracy, and aggravated breach of the peace after allegedly making hoax phone calls about dead bodies in four small towns. The deputies, namely Justin Tyler Reichard, 28, Darien Myles Roseau, 25, and Killian Daniel Loflin, 26, were arrested and charged by the State Law Enforcement Division.

Three South Carolina sheriff's deputies charged with misconduct

The incident involved five phone calls reporting a dead body, made either to a convenience store or to police on February 4th in the small towns of Cheraw, Chesterfield, McBee, and Pageland in Chesterfield County. Each time, officers and emergency workers responded, only to discover that the reports were false.

Motive and legal proceedings

The motive behind the prank calls was not disclosed by investigators. Reichard, Roseau, and Loflin were subsequently booked at the Chesterfield County Detention Center. Notably, there is no information available regarding legal representation for the deputies at this time.

Response and investigation

The Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office requested the SLED investigation. Although a statement from state agents referred to the three men as "former deputies," their employment status was not confirmed by the sheriff's office, which had earlier suspended them.

Community reaction

The community expressed dismay over the deputies' actions, with one McBee resident, Briana Davenport, stating, "Prank calls happen, but you don't expect it from cops because we're supposed to be calling them to help us out. I think it's messed up for it to happen like that."

Continuing investigation

Chesterfield County, situated approximately 75 miles northeast of Columbia, is home to over 43,000 residents and boasts a sheriff's office with more than 50 sworn officers. The investigation continues as the community grapples with the repercussions of this unusual and troubling incident.