Sumter Coroner Sued Over Autopsy Report

SUMTER, S.C. (AP) _ The Sumter County coroner says he can’t release an autopsy report to a newspaper because he is a health care provider and it would violate medical privacy laws. Coroner Harvin Bullock made the argument after being sued by The Item newspaper because he refused to release the autopsy report for 25-year-old Aaron Jacobs, killed by a police officer who thought he pulled a weapon as he tried to question him about a carjacking in September. Bullock’s attorney also says autopsy reports aren’t public records. South Carolina Press Association Attorney Jay Bender says the coroner is elected by the people and his reports are public records. He also says it is absurd the coroner calls himself a health care provider when he only treats dead people.