COLUMBIA, SC – A Tuesday morning traffic stop escalated into a two-county pursuit and violent confrontation after a driver allegedly sprayed six sheriff’s deputies and a police K-9 with bear spray before being taken into custody in Fairfield County.
According to a joint announcement from Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott and Fairfield County Sheriff Will Montgomery, the incident began around 10:40 a.m. Tuesday, October 20, when a Richland County deputy stopped a vehicle on Fairfield Road near Interstate 20 for speeding and failing to maintain its lane.
Authorities said the driver refused to provide identification and fled, triggering a pursuit that continued into neighboring Fairfield County…