The seven Greenville County Sheriffs Deputies involved in the standoff and shooting of Zachary Whitfield on November 16, have been cleared. After a full and extensive investigation by the Sheriff’s Office of Professional Standards and a full Conduct and Procedures Review Board, Greenville County Sheriff Steve Loftis determined that all of the deputies involved did follow the Sheriff’s Office policy in using deadly force to defend themselves and others during the incident.
The investigation determined that seven deputies fired 42 rounds at Whitfield after he first fired multiple rounds at them.
The seven deputies involved are Lt. Thomas McConnell, Sgt. Steven Rhea, Sgt. Scott Matheny, Master Deputy Patrick Swift, Master Deputy Jeff Maxwell, Deputy Ramon Rivera, and Deputy Chad Ayers. All of these deputies are with the Sheriff’s Office S.W.A.T. team with the exception of Deputy Rivera who is with the K-9 services unit.
The incident occurred after the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of Saluda Dam Rd. near White Horse Rd. to assist Anderson County deputies with a suspect they had been pursuing. Whitfield barricaded himself in his vehicle with a weapon near the Department of Motor Vehicles. “Our deputies gave Mr. Whitfield every opportunity to peacefully end the incident,” said Sheriff Loftis, “The deputies involved followed policy in defending themselves and others and I am extremely grateful for their bravery and dedication.”
