Chief Scott on Five Points Violence: “This is an extreme concern.”

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — Five Points merchants and officials are looking to the Columbia Police Department for help as crime seems to be escalating in the area. Tuesday, Columbia Police Chief Randy Scott held a press conference to talk about the problems in the area and what will be done to fix them. Merritt McHaffie, Executive Director of the Five Points Association, also attended the press conference. “We are not standing here at odds, we’re standing here together,” says Chief Scott. Chief Scott says the violence is an extreme concerned and police must act and make changes so that others do not think it’s okay to go to Five Points and victimize others. Chief Scott also addressed concerns over underage drinking in the area. “When you have underage consumption, it’s not just drinking under age. It’s the assaults that happen after you’ve been consuming alcohol, it’s the sexual assaults that happen after you’ve consumed alcohol, it’s the shooting incidents that occur after underage consumption has occurred,” says Chief Scott. Going forward, Chief Scott says law enforcement will take a more aggressive approach in Five Points as soon as this weekend. He also says this past weekend’s reports of violence are under investigation. ABC Columbia News will continue to follow this story bringing you updates as they become available.