Former SC deputies to face criminal charges in drownings that killed 2 during storm

Source: Charleston Post and Courier

Former Horry County sheriff’s deputies are expected to face criminal charges on Friday for their involvement in the deaths of two mental health patients who drowned in Tropical Storm Florence’s floodwaters last fall.

Stephen Flood is expected to face two counts each of reckless homicide and involuntary manslaughter, according to multiple media reports. Joshua Bishop is expected to face two counts of involuntary manslaughter.

A bond hearing for the former deputies has been set for Friday morning, according to the reports.

Loved ones of the victims, Nicolette Green and Wendy Newton, met with 12th Circuit Solicitor Ed Clements for two hours on Thursday, according to the Myrtle Beach Sun News.

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By Gregory Yee
Jan 3, 2019 Updated 30 min ago


Read more: https://www.postandcourier.com/news/former-sc-deputies-to-face-criminal-charges-in-drownings-that/article_5993ec88-0fbc-11e9-9492-f3280a423f77.html

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Source: Associated Press

Officers to be charged after 2 patients drowned in van

By MEG KINNARD
13 minutes ago

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Charges are expected Friday against two South Carolina law enforcement officers who were transporting two mental patients who drowned while locked in the back of a van during Hurricane Florence, according to a prosecutor’s statements to several media outlets.

Stephen Flood will be charged with two counts each of reckless homicide and involuntary manslaughter, Solicitor Ed Clements told news outlets late Thursday. Joshua Bishop will be charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter, he said.

Flood and Bishop were fired from the Horry County Sheriff’s Office in October as part of an internal investigation. Authorities said the two deputies were driving 45-year-old Wendy Newton and 43-year-old Nicolette Green through Marion County to a mental-health facility as part of a court order when their van was swept away by rising floodwaters caused by torrential rains brought to the state by Hurricane Florence.

The powerful tropical system smashed into the Southeast coast as a hurricane Sept. 14, triggering severe flooding as it weakened yet nearly stalled over the Carolinas for days.

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Read more: https://apnews.com/7c2b1123dcd449c1b2e0b493c7109b30