Post by KC on Oct 13, 2006 19:39:33 GMT -5
FLORENCE, S.C. - Lamar's police chief has been charged with stealing a windshield from a golf cart while in uniform, authorities say.
Police Chief Mike McDonald turned himself in to Darlington County police Tuesday morning on charges of petit larceny and misconduct in office. He was released later in the day on a $1,000 bond, according to jail records.
"I messed up, your honor," McDonald said at his bond hearing. "It's embarrassing for my position."
"I know the news media is here, and they're going to have a field day with it," the chief said.
McDonald was in his uniform when he took a windshield from a golf cart at a Darlington used car lot in August, Darlington Police Lt. Danny Watson said.
An employee said the cart was chained to a pole when the windshield was taken.
"Just ridiculous. That's all somebody you can trust out there, it's just ridiculous," said Tyrone Jett, who filed the police report against McDonald.
McDonald hasn't given investigators any reason why he took the windshield, Watson said.
"It's unfortunate and it's difficult, but it's part of the job," Watson said. "We can't tolerate that kind of stuff, period."
McDonald has returned the windshield, valued at $80, authorities said.
McDonald, who has been police chief of Lamar since 2002, has been placed on administrative leave, Lamar Mayor Bobby Hudson said.
This is the second time in the past decade a police chief in this Darlington County town has been involved in a controversy.
In August 1997, Police Chief Michael Biener resigned, accusing the then-mayor of pressuring him to drop a driving under the influence charge.
www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/breaking_news/15728277.htm
Police Chief Mike McDonald turned himself in to Darlington County police Tuesday morning on charges of petit larceny and misconduct in office. He was released later in the day on a $1,000 bond, according to jail records.
"I messed up, your honor," McDonald said at his bond hearing. "It's embarrassing for my position."
"I know the news media is here, and they're going to have a field day with it," the chief said.
McDonald was in his uniform when he took a windshield from a golf cart at a Darlington used car lot in August, Darlington Police Lt. Danny Watson said.
An employee said the cart was chained to a pole when the windshield was taken.
"Just ridiculous. That's all somebody you can trust out there, it's just ridiculous," said Tyrone Jett, who filed the police report against McDonald.
McDonald hasn't given investigators any reason why he took the windshield, Watson said.
"It's unfortunate and it's difficult, but it's part of the job," Watson said. "We can't tolerate that kind of stuff, period."
McDonald has returned the windshield, valued at $80, authorities said.
McDonald, who has been police chief of Lamar since 2002, has been placed on administrative leave, Lamar Mayor Bobby Hudson said.
This is the second time in the past decade a police chief in this Darlington County town has been involved in a controversy.
In August 1997, Police Chief Michael Biener resigned, accusing the then-mayor of pressuring him to drop a driving under the influence charge.
www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/breaking_news/15728277.htm