South Carolina Deputy Under Investigation After Striking High School Baseball Player with Stun Gun During Game Incident

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division has launched an investigation into a disturbing incident involving a sheriff's deputy who allegedly struck a 17-year-old high school baseball player in the head with a stun gun following a game in Mullins last week.

The confrontation occurred after an evening baseball game on March 25 between Pee Dee Academy in Mullins and Lee Academy in Bishopville, approximately 50 miles northwest of Myrtle Beach, according to state investigators.

Video footage of the incident, posted on social media by the student's 21-year-old brother Jesse Bowers, shows the Marion County deputy restraining the teenage athlete from behind with his arm wrapped around the player's neck before removing his stun gun and striking the student in the head.

Bill Hopkins, the attorney representing the family, confirmed that the video was filmed by a parent attending the game and captures what he describes as an excessive use of force against a minor.

"Law enforcement officers take an oath to protect and serve − a duty that is fundamental to public trust," Hopkins stated. "When that duty is breached, it must be taken seriously. We intend to hold all responsible parties accountable for the assault of a mother and her minor son and the unlawful arrest of her other son."

The incident reportedly began when the student's mother approached an umpire in the parking lot after the game to ask a question, which allegedly caused the deputy to "take offense" according to Hopkins's account of events.

The attorney alleges that the deputy "grabbed her by the forearm and put the palm of her face and pushed her," prompting her 24-year-old son to intervene in defense of his mother, resulting in his arrest on disorderly conduct charges.

The situation escalated when the 17-year-old baseball player emerged from the dugout and became involved after an unidentified adult allegedly made "disparaging comments about his team losing the game," according to the family's legal representation.

In the video footage, the deputy can be heard justifying his actions by claiming the student stepped on his foot, stating "He stepped on my foot. I told him to get off" as an explanation for the physical altercation.

The footage shows the deputy forcing the student to his knees while maintaining his hold around the player's neck, raising serious questions about appropriate law enforcement response at scholastic sporting events.

Marion County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Tammy Erwin declined to release the deputy's name or confirm whether he had been placed on administrative leave, though local television station WPDE reported that Erwin indicated the officer "had been reassigned" pending the investigation.

Erwin directed all inquiries about the case to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, which was requested by the Marion County Sheriff's Office on March 26 to investigate the previous day's incident.

The case highlights ongoing concerns about law enforcement presence and conduct at high school sporting events, where emotions often run high among players, parents, and spectators following competitive contests.

High school athletics serve as important community gatherings where families come together to support student-athletes, making incidents like this particularly troubling for the broader scholastic sports community.

Both Pee Dee Academy and Lee Academy are private institutions that compete in South Carolina's independent school athletic programs, representing communities where high school sports often serve as focal points for local pride and family involvement.

The 17-year-old student involved attends Lee Academy in Bishopville, while the game took place at Pee Dee Academy's facilities in Mullins, highlighting how such incidents can impact multiple school communities.

As the investigation continues, the case serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining appropriate security protocols at scholastic athletic events that prioritize de-escalation and protect the safety of student-athletes and their families.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division has not provided a timeline for completing their investigation, though the serious nature of the allegations involving a minor suggests the case will receive thorough scrutiny.

The incident occurs against a backdrop of increased scrutiny of law enforcement interactions with minors, particularly in educational and athletic settings where young people should feel safe and supported.

For the high school baseball community in South Carolina, this incident raises important questions about security protocols and appropriate responses to post-game tensions that occasionally arise in competitive scholastic athletics.