Suspect Drowns After Trying to Escape Sumter Co. Deputies

SUMTER COUNTY, SC (WOLO)- A man is dead after he fled a driver’s license checkpoint on foot and drowned in a private pound.

Deputies from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Officer were conducting a driver’s license checkpoint around 7:25 p.m. on Havenwood Drive when they saw a drive stop and turn quickly onto a side road in an attempt to elude deputies.

According to authorities, the vehicle turned onto Havenwood Drive before abruptly stopping. The man jumped out and fled on foot into a wooded area between homes. Neighbors pointed deputies in the direction the man fled.

Deputies pursued the man until heard noises coming from a small pond and spotted the man in distress about 25 feet from the shore. The first deputy dove into the water in an attempt to rescue the man but the shock of the cold water caused him to come back toward shore.

The second deputy on the scene helped the first deputy from the water and they called for EMS and divers.

Neither deputy suffered significant injuries.. Divers from both the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office and Sumter Fire Department responded and a Fire Department diver recovered the man’s body in about 15 feet of water.

Sumter County Sheriff Anthony Dennis has called in SLED to investigate.

Sumter County Coroner Robbie Baker should be able to release the man’s identity on Thursday.