CHESTER COUNTY, S.C. — A Chester County man says he is considering legal action against Chester County Sheriff Alex Underwood after he says he was wrongfully arrested.
On a Facebook Live video, 26-year-old Tirell Simpson of Fort Lawn is seen being grabbed by Sheriff Underwood as Underwood places Simpson under arrest after Simpson spent several minutes streaming an active manhunt and severe car crash to viewers.
The live video was recorded back in November, lasting nearly 30 minutes as Simpson gave updates to his viewers.
“I just wanted to inform people, just in case it was their family members,” Simpson said.
About 90 seconds into the video, the Fort Lawn man could be seen standing in his gated front yard when Chester County Sheriff Alex Underwood approached him.
“We got somebody on the loose out here," Sheriff Underwood could be heard saying.
“Go back on the porch, I don’t want nothing to happen to you okay," he continues. "I don’t want nothing to happen to you.”
For more than 20 minutes, Simpson continued to live stream the crime scene, at times he is seen stepping out of his gate.
That’s when the Sheriff returned to Simpson’s yard.
“I got a manhunt out here, I got somebody armed and dangerous out here,” Sheriff Underwood said. “Get on the porch, I’m telling you to get on the porch.”
Simpson interjected, “I’m in my yard, man, we good.”
In the video, Simpson returns to his porch but not before a few final words to the Sheriff.
“Now manhunt, now manhunt, now manhunt,” Simpson called to the Sheriff.
The Sheriff then proceeded to turn around, approach Simpson and ask, “You got something you want to say?”
Simpson responded by telling the Sheriff to go do his job. The Sheriff then appeared to grab Simpson. The two get seemingly into a scuffle.
Simpson was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
“I felt harassed," Simpson said. “You can’t take your authority and use it on people who are innocent.
NBC Charlotte’s Billie Jean Shaw sat down with Sheriff Underwood as he explained the charges.
“He was being boisterous and cussing us out and out in the roadway,” Underwood said. “The individual that was arrested was told several times by myself and other officers to stay back on his porch, we have an armed suspect on the loose.”
Sheriff Underwood said it was important to protect the safety of Simpson and the first responders on scene.
“We gave him all the opportunity to get back," he said. "If you [want to] do our job, come in here with a clear record and a driver’s license, I’ll give you a job.”
According to South Carolina state law, a person who is being boisterous and using profanity can be charged with disorderly conduct. However, the statute specifies, the person must be in a public place.
Simpson disputes he was in his yard the entire time of the exchange. Simpson has hired an attorney in hopes of getting the charges dropped.