SCSO: Woman charged after attempting to hit victim while child in vehicle

The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office say a deputy saw the vehicle 23-year-old Imani Stephens was driving nearly hit a victim around 1 a.m. on Saturday,  Aug. 17 near hwy 378 and hwy 261.

Photo: Sumter County Sheriff’s Office

SUMTER COUNTY, S.C. (WOLO)–  A Sumter woman is accused of trying to hit a victim with her car with a child inside after a domestic disturbance turned violent on Saturday, say deputies.

The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office say a deputy saw the vehicle 23-year-old Imani Stephens was driving nearly hit a victim around 1 a.m. on Saturday,  Aug. 17 near hwy 378 and hwy 261.

When the victim saw the deputy, they ran to ask for help.

Deputies say Stephens drove her vehicle in front of the deputy’s patrol car before getting out.

The deputy told Stephens to return to her vehicle.

When she got back inside her car, she attempted to drive away, and hit the deputy’s car.

Another deputy tried to stop Stephens before she drove to a nearby home.

Investigators say when she got to the home, she took the child into the house and locked the door.

Stephens is accused of resisting arrest before deputies were able to arrest her.

“We are greatly relieved that neither the child nor the victim was injured, and the suspect has been arrested. Such reckless disregard for life-especially when a little one is present-is unthinkable,” Sheriff Anthony Dennis.

She is charged with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, child endangerment, failure to stop for a blue light, resisting arrest, uninsured motorist and operating an unregistered vehicle.

Stephens is being held at the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center on a $50,000 bond and is awaiting trial.