Richland County deputy charged with DUI, no longer with the department

A now former Richland County sheriff’s deputy is facing a DUI charge following a July 3 traffic stop.

According to a release from the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, Michael Kennedy, 36, was stopped by Lexington County Sheriff’s Department officers at 1:30 a.m. July 3.

“Kennedy was believed to be under the influence of alcohol and was placed under arrest for DUI,” the Richland County Sheriff’s Department said in a July 4 release. “He was off duty and in his personal car at the time of the arrest. He was booked into the Lexington County Detention Center.”

The RCSD release said Kennedy was immediately suspended without pay and is now no longer employed by Richland County Sheriff’s Department.

This story was originally published July 4, 2026 at 2:15 PM.

Chris Trainor

The State

Chris Trainor is a retail reporter for The State and has been working for newspapers in South Carolina for more than 21 years, including previous stops at the (Greenwood) Index-Journal and the (Columbia) Free Times. He is the winner of a host of South Carolina Press Association awards, including honors in column writing, government beat reporting, profile writing, food writing, business beat reporting, election coverage, social media and more.