Richland County deputies replace military statue for local family who lost veteran son in 1987

On Monday, Richland County sheriff’s deputies replaced a family’s military monument statue given to them by their deceased son, who was a veteran, that was destroyed by a suspect in a stolen vehicle pursuit chase.

On April 23, 1987, Marine Pfc. James Griffith was killed in a hit and run incident off of Alpine Road by an intoxicated driver, according to Sheriff Leon Lott. Just months before his death, Griffith purchased a military monument statue in order to serve as a guardian angel for his mother Carol Long and step-father Kenneth Long.

However, the statue, which sat on the family’s front porch, was destroyed several months ago when a suspect abandoned a stolen vehicle during a pursuit with deputies on the drug suppression team. Lott said during the pursuit, the suspect got out of the vehicle and attempted to run on foot to evade police. The vehicle then crashed into the Longs’ front porch and destroyed the statue.

Lott said after the suspect was taken into custody, members of the drug suppression team learned of the sentimental value of the statue and began researching where Griffith purchased the it from. After collecting money between themselves, they presented the new statue to Griffith’s mother and step-father.

This story was originally published July 13, 2015 at 1:31 PM.