South Carolina Officers To Face Charges In Connection With Deaths Of Mental Health Patients In Storm Waters

Horry County Deputy Stephen Flood and Deputy Joshua Bishop were transporting 45-year-old Wendy Newton and 43-year-old Nicolette Green from a hospital to other facilities when their van was overtaken by floodwaters caused by Hurricane Florence. The deputies were unable to rescue the women from the overturned van.

Charges are expected Friday against two South Carolina law enforcement officers who were transporting two mental patients who drowned while locked in the back of a van during Hurricane Florence, according to a prosecutor's statements to several media outlets. Stephen Flood will be charged with two counts each of reckless homicide and involuntary manslaughter, Solicitor Ed Clements told news outlets late Thursday. Joshua Bishop will be charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter, he said. (Kinnard, 1/3)

Horry County Deputy Stephen Flood "made a conscious decision" to drive the van around a barricade and into an area threatened by rising floodwaters in violation of safety policy, according to a report by the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy and cited by WMBF News. Flood will be charged with two counts each of reckless homicide and involuntary manslaughter, according to The Associated Press citing statements by Marion County Solicitor Ed Clements. Deputy Joshua Bishop will be charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter. (Gonzales, 1/3)

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