A looK bAcK: Officers that have died in Aiken County in the last century

July 1902: Aiken County Sheriffs Office deputy Chester Ahl was shot in the back and killed as he rode his horse up to a suspect. November 1911: Aiken Public Safety officer Wade Hampton Patterson was shot and killed while trying to arrest a man after a dispute. April 1950: Aiken Public Safety patrolman Rufus H. Rodgers was shot and killed with his own weapon after responding to a domestic dispute between a father and two sons. JuNe 7, 1961: New Ellenton Police Department Chief Thurston Meeks was fatally shot.

Aiken Standard EditEd By: Brandon Lockett

LocaL News

Sunday, January 29, 2012 11a

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April 1925: Former Aiken County Sheriff Henry Hampton Howard was killed in an exchange of gunfire while he and three sheriffs deputies responded to a suspected bootlegging operation near Monetta. Annie Lowman, the wife of the homeowner, hit one of the deputies with an ax handle, and the deputy shot and killed her. The homeowners son and nephew exchanged gunfire with the sheriff, fatally shooting him. Three Lowman family members were convicted of the murder, but during a retrial, vigilantes stormed the jail, took the three prisoners out and killed them. November 1923: Aiken Public Safety officer Charlie Johnson was shot in the chest and killed in while he, along with the chief of police, attempted to arrest a man for drinking in public. The chief returned fire and killed the suspect. JANuAry 2009: Aiken County Sheriffs deputy Larry Cleveland was shot twice during an armed robbery at a Whiskey Road convenience store, and was hospitalized for gunshots to his shoulder and hip. Cleveland fired back at the gunman, 26-year-old Rodney Hamilton Jr., killing him with a fatal shot to the chest. Also, Former New Ellenton Police Chief Johnny Hamilton died after his police cruiser collided with a full-sized truck in Perry.

JANuAry 1978: Aiken Public Safety officer Mike Harvey died at age 27 when he was electrocuted as he attempted to check out a fire call on Jehossee Drive in Aiken.

mArch 1990: Aiken County Sheriffs Office Sgt. Charles Freeman died due to two heart attacks after he was attacked and kicked in the chest while attempting to subdue a suspect.

December 1977: Aiken County Sheriffs Office Deputy Herbert A. Williams died of a fatal heart attack after responding to a domestic disturbance call.

December 2006: Aiken County Sheriffs Office Deputy Sgt. Jason Sheppard died after being struck by a passing motorist when he stopped to assist with traffic control near Verenes Industrial Park after a chemical fire ignited.

Dec. 2011-preseNt
Dec. 20, 2011: Aiken Public Safety officers Scotty Richardson and Travis Griffin were both shot during a traffic stop on Brandt Court. The suspect, Stephon Carter, was also shot. Griffin, who was struck in the chest but saved by his bullet proof vest, was taken to Aiken Regional. Richardson and Carter were taken to Georgia Health Sciences Medical Center. Dec. 21: Richardson dies in the early morning. Dec. 27: Richardson is laid to rest. JAN. 2: Carter is released from the hospital and booked into Richmond County Jail. Carter is charged with murder and attempted murder. JAN. 3: Carter is then booked into the Aiken County detention center. JAN. 5: Carter is denied bond at his hearing. JAN. 28, 2012 7:41 a.m.: Officers get a call about suspicious vehicles in Eustis Park. 7:49 a.m.: Officer Sandy Rogers says shes in the area. 7:50 a.m.: Another officer gets to the scene and approaches one of the vehicles, which was described as a red truck, while Rogers approaches the blue vehicle. 7:50:45 a.m.: Rogers number is called she doesnt respond. 7:51 a.m.: An officer said shots were fired. 7:51:35 a.m. Officer reported down, EMS is requested and sheriffs office is notified. 7:52 a.m.: The chase of the suspect begins. 7:57 a.m.: Officer loses sight of suspect vehicle, a 2002 blue BMW 8:03 a.m.: Search helicopter is requested. 11:35 a.m.: 26-year-old Joshua Tremaine Jones is taken into custody in Batesburg.

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November 2008: Aiken County Sheriffs Office Deputy Lt. Michael Frank died from injuries he sustained in a single-car crash in Greene County, Ga., on his way back to Aiken County from Atlanta. He crashed near mile marker 132 on I-20.

oct. 27, 2009: New Ellenton Police Department volunteer Joe Randall died in a motorcycle accident. JuNe 2009: North Augusta Public Safety officer Kevin Hayes was shot by Timothy Houston, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison earlier this year. Houston led Hayes and another officer on a chase through Aiken County, eventually firing eight shots at Hayes vehicle, including one that grazed Hayes nose.

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