Mayor Dies Just Days After Entire Police Force Resigns

Mayor George Garner II of McColl, South Carolina, died following a tragic car crash amid police department turmoil and an ongoing investigation.

At a Glance

Mayor Garner, 49, reportedly died in a head-on collision with a semi-truck while being pursued by law enforcement.
The entire McColl police force resigned days before the incident, citing a hostile work environment.
Garner was under investigation by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division at the time of his death.
The pursuit was reportedly for Garner’s protection, not due to any legal violations.
The incident has left the town of McColl without adequate law enforcement twice in just over a year.

Fatal Crash and Mysterious Pursuit

On November 26, Mayor George Garner II of McColl, South Carolina, lost his life in a tragic car accident on Highway 34 in Mechanicsville. The 49-year-old mayor was driving a Chevrolet Tahoe when he veered over the center line and collided head-on with a tractor-trailer. Both Garner and the truck driver were hospitalized, but Garner succumbed to his injuries at McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence.

The circumstances surrounding the crash have raised questions, as it was revealed that Garner was being pursued by a Marlboro County deputy at the time of the incident. Darlington County Coroner Todd Hardee provided a puzzling statement about the nature of the pursuit.

“The pursuit was not related to any laws being broken. The pursuit was taking place in an effort to protect the well being of Mr. Garner,” Hardee said.

This unusual explanation has left many residents wondering about the circumstances leading up to the mayor’s untimely death. The coroner is expected to determine the manner of Garner’s death in the coming days, which may provide more clarity on the incident.

Police Department Resignations and Tensions

The tragedy follows a tumultuous period for the town of McColl. Just days before Mayor Garner’s death, the entire police department of McColl resigned, citing a hostile work environment and budget cuts. This mass exodus left the town without adequate law enforcement, a situation that had occurred once before in the past year.

“My personal decision to step away from the McColl Police Department can be attributed to repeated acts of harassment, personal attacks on my character, and the overall creation of a hostile work environment perpetuated by a specific Councilman,” Former Police Chief Bob Hale said.

Hale’s resignation statement sheds light on the internal conflicts plaguing the department. His predecessor, Xzavier Williams, had also reportedly resigned, alleging a hostile work environment created by Mayor Garner himself.

Ongoing Investigation and Community Impact

Adding to the complexity of the situation, it was revealed that Mayor Garner was linked to an “active and ongoing” investigation by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) at the time of his death. The nature of this investigation remains undisclosed.

Despite the controversies surrounding his administration, Garner was recently re-elected and was well-regarded by many in the community. Marlboro County 911 expressed condolences, noting Garner’s kindness and respect for others. The mayor is survived by his wife and three children, leaving behind a community grappling with loss and uncertainty.

As the town of McColl mourns the loss of its mayor and grapples with the absence of a police force, questions linger about the future of local governance and law enforcement in this small South Carolina community. The tragic death of Mayor Garner serves as a stark reminder of the complex challenges facing small-town America and the potential consequences of political turmoil.