Car Accident Attorney inDuncan, SC

CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) – The Charleston County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) released Tuesday new dash camera video from an Oct. 21 pursuit involving Rashard Duncan in the Hollywood-Ravenel area.

The video shows the suspect reaching high speeds and even driving on the wrong side of the highway, eventually ending in a mobile home community where a foot chase ensued.

After Duncan’s arrest and apparent assault by another deputy, the dash camera video – which comes from Charleston County Deputy Alexander Hodge’s patrol vehicle – picked up a conversation with the suspect, believed to be Duncan, while being detained and awaiting EMS to be checked out.

The suspect can be heard admitting to being high after “having some coke” and stating that he wanted to see how fast his rental could go.

He also complained of pain on the side of his face. Duncan was punched several times with a closed fist by another Charleston County deputy – James Carter – following the pursuit.

The deputy is heard asking the suspect about his movements before being assaulted by the deputy. The suspect replied saying he was just pulling up his pants and was not reaching for a gun at the time.

Video released on Monday shows Duncan with his pants slightly down at points during the assault and arrest.

Charleston County Sheriff Kristin Graziano said she believes it is important for the public to see the events that led to the encounter between Deputy Carter and Duncan after releasing the second video.

“Our deputies face uncertain circumstances daily in their efforts to keep the community safe. I am thankful for their commitment, and we are fortunate no one was injured during the course of this incident,” she said.

Attorneys representing Deputy James Carter said the suspect reached speeds of over 100 mph during the chase and discarded items from the window while traveling on Highway 17.

Duncan was charged at the time with resisting arrest, failure to stop for blue lights, reckless driving, and various drug charges.

The sheriff’s office said it found no policy violation against Deputy Hodge during an internal review of the pursuit.

Carter was terminated from the sheriff’s office and later charged by the State Law Enforcement Divison with misconduct in office and third-degree assault and battery. He was released the same day.

DUNCAN, S.C. —

The president of AFL, a company based in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, has been suspended.

Jody Gallagher was the president and CEO of AFL, a company based in Duncan.

The company told WYFF News 4 in an email that Gallagher was suspended pending an internal investigation.

The email said Jaxon Lang had been named acting CEO.

"No other comments are available at this time," the email from AFL said.

The AFL website says Gallagher has served as President and CEO of AFL since 2003.

The website says the company is "an international manufacturer providing end-to-end solutions to the energy, service provider, enterprise, hyperscale and industrial markets."

The website says the company has 7,000 employees worldwide.

According to the company website, Gallagher has been a member of the board of directors for AFL’s parent company, Fujikura, headquartered in Tokyo.

The website says, "Headquartered in Spartanburg, SC, AFL has operations in the U.S., Mexico, Canada, Europe, Asia and Australia, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fujikura Ltd. of Japan."

A news release from Fujikura posted on May 26, 2023, said there was an investigation related to "an improper real estate acquisition at a U.S. Subsidiary," after a whistleblowing complaint on May 3, 2023.

The release said in part:

"Based on a whistleblowing complaint made on March 3, 2023, we were made aware of suspicious activities regarding the personal misappropriation of real property owned by one of our US subsidiaries by a director of the Company, who is the CEO of such subsidiary, and launched an internal investigation immediately thereafter. Our investigation is still continuing at this moment, however, to date, it has uncovered that an improper acquisition was made with respect to land purchased in 2020 and a building built in 2022 by such subsidiary (the total value of such land and building at the time of acquisition amounts to approximately 6.5 million US dollars (equivalent to 847 million Japanese yen)). Further, our investigation to date has uncovered that the said officer disguised the purpose for acquiring the land and building to make such subsidiary acquire such property and that said officer used such property for a certain period for its personal purpose. The said officer has been suspended from the US subsidiary and the Company."

The company has not said whether this investigation lead to Gallagher being suspended.

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (FOX Carolina) -Dust off your kayaks and head to Duncan Park Lake, as the 14-acre lake reopens for non-motorized boating and catch-and-release fishing after being untouched for decades.

“This brand new dock—it’s like, oh, it’s just a dock, what’s the big deal? It’s a huge deal,” said Sophi Schwartzbauer, communications manager for Play Advocate Live Well (PAL). “We see the potential to bring the community out together for active recreation on the lake.”

The city banned these activities for roughly 50 years due to neighborhood concerns that, according to Spartanburg Communications Manager Christopher George, are no longer relevant.

“It was a really long time ago, and there were neighborhood concerns back then about people fishing and using the lake that aren’t really relevant anymore,” George said. “Folks in the area now are way more excited about it than they used to be. It’s been one of the biggest requests we’ve had for a long time.”

The reopening aims to help visitors beat the summer heat.

“We have noticed a lot of excitement around the project. Being only three minutes from downtown, I can imagine it’s going to bring a lot of folks in,” Schwartzbauer said.

For those without a kayak, the new Share Kayak app allows users to rent kayaks by scanning a QR code. Rentals are available in hour increments, making it convenient for park visitors to enjoy the lake without having to lug their own equipment.

“You can rent it in hour increments and just bring it back whenever you like. It’s super simple—the kayak is right beside the dock, so you don’t have to lug it a long way. In theory, you can kayak all day,” Schwartzbauer said.

The park also provides life jackets, but visitors are cautioned to stay out of the water.

“Of course, we ask that no one go swimming in the lake. Non-motorized boating is great, but stay out of the water. You can fish from your boat and off the side of the lake, but we are asking you to stay out of the water,” Schwartzbauer added.

Copyright 2024 WHNS. All rights reserved.

DUNCAN, S.C. (FOX Carolina) -In a heartwarming tribute to a cherished member of the community, Duncan is launching its inaugural “Yard of the Month” award.

Celebrating the beauty of local landscapes in memory of a beloved gardener, Lisa Foster. Foster’s passion for gardening and her vibrant personality left an enduring impact on those around her, inspiring friends and neighbors to cultivate their own green spaces.

“Lisa was good friends with my aunt and growing up Lisa and my aunt were always either in Lias’s yard or my aunts yard working on flowers and as a little girl I got to do that with them,” Alicia Fulghum said.

Fulghum, a close friend of Lisa, reminisces about their shared love for gardening, recalling fond memories of working alongside Lisa and her aunt in their yards. Alicia treasures the gardening wisdom passed down by Foster.

“One thing Lisa and my aunt did teach me when planting a pot: you want a thriller, a filler and a spiller to go in your pot. So you want something that grows tall, that will stand out and you want something to fill out your empty spaces,” Fulghum said.

Lisa’s frequent visits to Ridge and Company, a favorite flower nursery, showed her dedication to nurturing her garden.

“She had a lot of friends, there was a community group of them and they would go flower shopping all over. They actually would come here to shop,” Fulghum said.

Lisa’s vibrant personality reflected in her garden, which showcased bold colors and diverse flora. Her dedication to beautifying her surroundings served as an inspiration to many.

“Her passing was a great loss but I think with Yard of the month and honoring her I think that will help it move forward in a positive way,” Fulghum said.

The “Yard of the Month” competition, initiated by Foster, aims to highlight yards and gardens that exemplify creativity, care, and dedication.

“Lisa, she has a beautiful garden every year. She should’ve been recognized before now. But then she became ill so we were not able to do it while she was still with us but we did it afterwards,” Mayor Shirley Clopton said.

However, the city is proud to honor her ensuring her legacy lives on through the competition.

“Yard of the month is not just about who has the best lawn or grass. There’s more to it..you really have to put some love into it and some thought,” Fulghum said.

For those who win “Yard of the Month” they will receive a $50 gift Gard from Ridge & Company Lumber & Building Supplies on Duncan Reidville rd.

Copyright 2024 WHNS. All rights reserved.

Have you visited Tyger River Park in Spartanburg County? This giant park is home to ball fields, a huge playground, a splash pad, and more. Read on to hear everything parents need to know about Tyger River Park.

You definitely want to make the time to check out Tyger River Park operated by Spartanburg County Parks. It is located at 179 Dillard Road in Duncan, South Carolina. Don’t let appearances deceive you- there is more to this park than perfectly kept baseball fields. It’s a playground experience for all ages, especially with the brand-new renovation of 2023.

Looking for more great parks in Spartanburg, don’t miss our guide to Great Parks in Spartanburg County.

Spartanburg’s Tyger River Park is For All Ages

When you first enter the gates to Tyger River Park, you won’t be able to see the playground areas from the road that encircles the enclosure. Look for the tall tower in the center of the grounds. The brand-new playgrounds and giant sandbox are located on either side of it. Follow the signs to the Clubhouse and park there. From the parking lot, it’s a short walk to the play areas. You can get a sense of the park’s scale and use this handy park map to help plan your day.

Play Equipment for All Ages at Tyger River Park

There is truly play equipment for all ages.

The first playground is geared for younger children, toddlers to preschool age. There are slides, swings, play horses, and even a cute little house to stoke the imagination. This playground is within sight of the giant sandbox, too. Kids can bring their own sand toys or just play around in Duncan’s version of “the beach.”

The location is perfect for smaller children to independently play between the sandbox and the playground, and benches are provided for adult supervision if you are lucky enough to get a chance to sit down. The new playground includes shaded benches for parents as well.

The second playground is much bigger and caters to children ages 5-12. The many slides available are taller and faster than the smaller playground and climbing features are more challenging. There are also swings in this area.

The new playground has five benches with shade and is covered in astroturf.

Splash Pad at Tyger River Park

The splash pad is open 9 am to 8 pm between Memorial Day to Labor Day but they are opening early in 2024 on May 1st! Located just past the playground area (opposite the direction of the Clubhouse), kids can easily go from the playground to the splash pad to cool off and back to the playground. Double bonus: the splash pad is fenced in.

Clean bathrooms

The bathrooms for the public are located on the side of the Clubhouse building. They were clean and well-stocked with soap and both paper towels and air dryers. As parents, you can never underestimate the awesomeness of a park restroom that doesn’t make you cringe

A Couple of Considerations for Tyger River Park

The new playground has benches with shade and the shade screen above the sandbox does provide some relief but the playgrounds have no shade. Especially in the hot days of summer, it’s important to bring sunscreen and water. On warmer days, it is definitely best to plan on arriving early in the morning or in the late afternoon/early evening or spend hotter parts of the day at the splash pad.

Tyger River is a big park and the playgrounds are on opposite sides of the tower, which can make it hard to watch kids of different age groups. So plan on negotiating how much time you will spend on which playground or bring a second adult for help with supervision.

With proper planning, Tyger River Park is a must-do for a positive play experience for all ages. And we just love the new play equipment! With so much to do, the kids will be occupied for hours, so don’t forget to pack snacks and water or bring along a lunch to eat at the nearby picnic tables.

Find your new favorite park!

The Kidding Around Guide to Parks in the Upstate