Darlington deputy acquitted

A Darlington County sheriff’s deputy has been found not guilty of simple assault and battery less than than a month after his arrest, according to a deposition from the Florence
County Magistrate’s Office released Thursday, Nov. 13.

Steven Cooper, 41, of 3893 West Point Drive had been arrested Oct. 7. He was found not guilty during a bench trial Oct. 30.

The day he was arrested is the same day as the alleged incident at his home where he was confronted by two women. One of the women said the suspect grabbed the victim by the neck and shirt collar and tried to drag her out of the house, according to a Florence County Sheriff’s office case report summary. The second woman said she injured her right forearm while she was trying to stop the suspect.

The Darlington County Sheriff’s Office found out about the incident a day after it happened and suspended the deputy without pay until a final decision was made in the matter, according to a release issued by the office last month.