The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) has launched an investigation into allegations that a School Resource Officer (SRO) at Pee Dee Academy struck a Lee Academy student athlete in the head with his stun gun after a high school baseball game.
The incident occurred on March 25 in Marion County, following a game between the Pee Dee Academy Golden Eagles and the Lee Academy Cavaliers.
Details of the Incident
After Pee Dee Academy’s 7-0 victory, a disturbing video surfaced on social media showing the officer allegedly using his stun gun on a Lee Academy player. The video, which lasts about two and a half minutes, appears to show the officer striking the student in the head while holding the athlete by the neck.
The officer claims that he only used the stun gun after the student stepped on his foot with cleats during an altercation. The officer also sent a civilian to retrieve an extra pair of handcuffs, although these were not used during the incident.
Missing Context and Allegations
The video has sparked widespread concern, but it remains unclear what exactly led to this moment. According to Faye Martin Joye, a local Marion resident, the incident stemmed from a larger altercation in which the officer was reportedly trying to de-escalate a situation involving a boy’s mother, who had become upset about a bad call by an umpire and attempted to confront him in the parking lot.
Despite claims that the officer was not intoxicated, the full context of what led to the use of force remains under investigation. Marion County Sheriff’s Office Victim Advocate Supervisor Tammy Erwin confirmed that the matter was referred to SLED for further review.
As part of the investigation, the officer involved has been reassigned, pending the results.
Background on the Schools Involved
Pee Dee Academy and Lee Academy are both private schools in South Carolina, with Pee Dee Academy located in Mullins and Lee Academy in Bishopville. The two schools compete in SCISA athletics at the Class 2A level.
Pee Dee Academy, chartered in 1965, has approximately 450 students, while Lee Academy, also founded in 1965, enrolls around 300 students.
The Investigation Continues
At this time, no further details have been released regarding the investigation. The SLED’s findings will determine the next steps, and the community continues to wait for more clarity on what led to this troubling incident outside the baseball stadium.
