North Augusta officer cleared in civil rights case

A North Augusta police officer has been cleared of any wrongdoing in a civil rights complaint that was filed after a 2007 police chase.  The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division said today the case was closed because the alleged victim refused to cooperate with state investigators.  The case was originally filed by Joseph Williams.  Williams claimed officer Robert Bell struck him in the mouth with a gun during a June 18, 2007 arrest.

Williams was a passenger in a car that was involved in a police chase through North Augusta that day.  Police were called after a report of shoplifting at the North Augusta Wal-Mart.

Bell told SLED investigators he was trying to get Williams to put his hands up when Williams reached under the passenger seat of the vehicle.  At that point, Bell says, he reached into the car with his gun and tried to hit Williams in the chest, accidentally striking the suspect in the face instead.

An investigative report released Friday says SLED investiagators dropped the case after Williams’ attorney refused to let them question Williams.