NCCC withdraws support for Sanford
The National Republican Congressional Committee withdrew its support of former Gov. Mark Sanford’s congressional campaign Wednesday after his ex-wife, former South Carolina first lady Jenny Sanford, filed a court complaint accusing him of trespassing, Politico reported.
The NRCC will no longer contribute money or other support to Sanford, who has been in a tight race with Democratic candidate Elizabeth Colbert Busch. The two have recently been polling within points of each other.
Colbert Busch has the support of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
The complaint caused Republicans to worry that more issues from Sanford’s personal life may come to light and further damage the campaign.
The NRCC has spent money on polling and “other activities” for Sanford, and spending millions more was under discussion before they withdrew support, Politico reported.
SLED investigating death of tased man
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is investigating the death of a man who died after being tased multiple times, WCSC reported.
Carl Ballard, 29, of Kingstree, approached a driver’s license checkpoint around 11 p.m. but sped off after officers began to approach the car.
After a chase spanning several streets, the car stopped. The passenger surrendered immediately, but police said Ballard ran into the woods.
Ballard fell and officers told him to stay down, but he got up and started running again. A trooper then deployed his taser, the police report said. He fell again but got up and kept running. This happened multiple times before officers forcibly put Ballard’s hands behind his back. They took him to the emergency room, where he later died.
The Williamsburg County Coroner’s Office has not determined a cause of death.
Former FBI agent announces mayoral bid
Another candidate has come forth in the race for Columbia’s mayor.
Former FBI analyst Larry Sypolt, 35, made his campaign announcement in front of the Five Points fountain Tuesday afternoon, The State reported.
With him were the parents of a young man attacked in Five Points two years ago, as well as owners of local nightclubs and consignment stores.
Sypolt criticized the city’s violence and said his experience in law enforcement may help solve the problem.
He proposed merging the Columbia Police Department and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department in order to “streamline resources and consolidate expenses,” The State said.
Sypolt is a 10-year veteran of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department narcotics unit. He spent five years with the FBI before leaving to open his own background screening and drug testing company.