Richard Combs Charged - A former police chief of a small South Carolina town has been charged with murder for shooting an unarmed African American man to death on May 2nd, 2011, at a parking lot.
Reports indicate that an Orangeburg County grand jury had Richard Combs charged on Wednesday, after establishing that he wrongfully killed the unarmed man.
Local sources say before the incident Richard Combs was the police chief in Eutawville, a small town with just over 300 residents.
The incident happened when the victim, 54-year-old Bernard Bailey, a retired corrections officer, went to a town hall meeting where Combs was also present. Bailey complained about a ticket he claims was wrongful issued to his daughter for a broken tail light. Bailey and Combs then got into an argument about the ticket.
Acting as the chief of police, Richard Combs immediately issued a warrant for Bailey's arrest, citing obstruction of justice as his crime. However, Bailey walked out of the meeting, but Richard Combs charged after him.
He had reportedly gotten into his truck, which was in the parking lot, and was reversing when Combs opened the driver's door. Reports indicate that the pair got into a fight. Moments into the scuffle, Combs shot Bailey twice; in the chest and shoulder.
Richard Combs claims to have only shot Bailey because he felt his life was threatened. While prosecutors maintain that he was the assailant and employed fatal force when it wasn't necessary.
A Circuit Court Judge Ed Dickson established that Richard Combs did not qualify for the state's "stand your ground" laws when he fatally shot and killed Bailey.
"Mr. Combs has failed to establish that he is entitled to claim self-defense as he did not show that he was without fault in bringing about the difficulty," the Court order reads.
"There was no need for Mr. Combs to act as he did on May 2, 2011, when Mr. Bailey refused service as Mr. Combs expected would happen," the court also says. "Mr. Combs should have allowed Mr. Bailey to leave and enlisted the assistance of other officers or serve the warrant at court as originally planned."
Reports indicate that after the incident, Richard Combs was initially placed on an administrative leave. He was subsequently fired from his post as the police chief.
Richard Combs was charged in Court on Thursday, where he was present. He faces about 10 ten years in prison for Bailey's murder.
'Richard Combs Charged' has since made headlines. Reports also indicate that in October 2012, Bailey's family sued Richard Combs, the town and the entire police department for his wrongful death. In April, the town awarded Bailey's family about $400,000 in settlement deal.
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