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A former South Carolina deputy was charged after body camera footage showed him beating a Black man unconscious during an arrest. The Charleston County Sheriff's Office recently released body camera footage of James Carter assaulting a Black suspect, later identified by an attorney as Rashard Duncan, per WCBD.
The video, which was captured on October 21, shows Carter quickly advancing on Duncan before punching him several times in the face, knocking him out at one point. Authorities said the deputy and the suspect were engaged in a vehicle pursuit on Highway 71 in the Hollywood area before the suspect started fleeing on foot. The Black man tripped and fell to the ground during the chase before the attack.
The sheriff's office fired Carter in November for several policy violations connected to the assault. While conducting an internal investigation, officials requested the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) to launch a probe into the incident, as well. SLED's investigation is ongoing.
Reporters said Carter was arrested on November 27 and charged by SLED with misconduct in office and third-degree assault and battery.
State Rep. Marvin Pendarvis, who's representing Duncan in the case, is calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the Charleston County Sheriff's Office over Carter's past aggressive behavior as a deputy.
“Unfortunately, you know, it comes out that there have been instances in the past where there’s been instances of aggression that he’s used toward different suspects and it’s my understanding that he’s been disciplined in different departments for that. It brings into question, right? Hiring practices, training practices, things that if you’ve known this has happened why you continue to put these deputies on the street,” he said during a news conference following the body camera footage's release on December 4.
Joseph Cannarella, an attorney representing Carter, said his client's previous issues have already been addressed.
“Those are past incidents and they have been addressed as, you know, those in the chain of command at those agencies saw fit and, you know, Mr. Carter has had to answer for whatever repercussions came of those incidents,” Cannarella told WCBD.
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