A drunken driving case in opposition to Charleston Metropolis Councilman Harry Griffin has been dropped after the Berkeley County sheriff’s deputy who arrested him resigned.
Chief Deputy Jeremy Baker, a spokesman for the Sheriff’s Workplace, confirmed the case had been dropped as a result of the previous deputy failed to look in courtroom.
The previous deputy, Brandon Vega, had been with the Sheriff’s Workplace for about two years and was a South Carolina Freeway Patrol trooper previous to becoming a member of the company, Baker mentioned.
Vega turned in his resignation earlier than Griffin’s scheduled courtroom date this previous week, the chief deputy mentioned. The resignation was not associated to the DUI case.
“He is simply eager to get out of legislation enforcement,” Baker mentioned.
Griffin couldn’t be reached by cellphone for remark.
The councilman was booked into the Berkeley County jail round 9:30 p.m. Could 29 and confronted one depend of DUI with a blood alcohol stage of lower than 0.10 p.c, information confirmed on the time.
Based on the Sheriff’s Workplace account of the arrest, Vega and different deputies had been conducting a sobriety checkpoint on County Line Highway within the unincorporated space of Cross about 7:50 p.m. that night time and had Griffin pull over after smelling alcohol within the councilman’s automotive.
When requested how a lot alcohol he needed to drink that night, Griffin, elected to Charleston Metropolis Council in November 2017 representing outer West Ashley, responded he had “none,” the report mentioned.
“Once I suggested Griffin that I can determine the odor of alcohol emanating from his automobile, he suggested, ‘Just one,’” in response to the report.
Griffin declined to carry out a discipline sobriety check, in response to the report.
As a result of he wouldn’t permit the alcohol testing, a discover of his license’s suspension “was accomplished and turned in.”
Griffin wrote on Fb on Could 30 he was harmless.
“I need to go on the file now and proclaim my innocence, as I will probably be vindicated in courtroom in due time,” he wrote within the submit.
It is a growing story. Please examine again for updates.
Attain Gregory Yee at 843-323-9175. Observe him on Twitter @GregoryYYee.
