Cop Charged With Killing Unarmed Suspect, Unleashing K-9 On Innocent Man

A South Carolina deputy has been charged after he fatally shot an unarmed suspect and unleashed his police dog on an innocent person, police said.

On Wednesday (August 21), Florence County Deputy Treyvon Jonathan Sellers was arrested on charges of voluntary manslaughter and assault in connection to the May 26 shooting of Dwayne Rankin and the dog attack on a second, innocent person, CBS News reports.

Sellers was pursuing Rankin in May before the suspect crashed his vehicle into a tree and ran into a nearby home near Florence, authorities said. The deputy entered the home through the back door with his unleashed police dog and didn't announce who he was. Sellers ordered the dog to attack without knowing who was inside. The dog then bit the homeowner, who wasn't involved in the incident.

As the dog attacked the innocent man, Sellers shot Rankin, who was unarmed, five times, killing him. The dog attack, which lasted roughly 87 seconds, left the homeowner with permanent injuries to his arm and shoulder.

Sellers faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted of voluntary manslaughter in Rankin's death and 20 years if convicted of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature in the dog attack.

The deputy was put on leave following the shooting and fired in July after an arrest in an unrelated domestic violence case.

In a statement, S.C. Sheriff TJ Joye said he's "personally met with the families of Mr. Rankin and Mr. Cooper where I have been as candid and transparent as I know how, and I have expressed my deep regret and sorrow over this incident. This incident is not indicative of our values, our mission or our training."

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