SC police chief used chainsaw in attempt to cut down tree containing a hunter, SLED says
A South Carolina police chief has been arrested after he attempted to cut down a tree containing a man in a deer stand he believed to be trespassing on his neighbor’s property, according to SLED.
Perry McAlhaney, the police chief for the town of Hampton, was charged with third degree assault and battery by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division on July 31.
On Nov. 4, 2023, McAlhaney arrived at a property adjacent to his home in Varnville, a town adjacent to Hampton, and encountered the victim in a deer stand in a tree.
McAlhaney, 61, then “accused the victim of trespassing,” according to an affidavit signed by SLED agent Ryan Kelly.
The victim had paid $500 to the owner of the property for a hunting lease, which gave him access to the property. This was confirmed by the property owner, Kelly wrote in his affidavit.
But after accusing the hunter of trespassing, McAlehaney “retrieved a chain saw and began cutting the tree that contained the victim down,” while the victim filmed the incident on his phone, according to the affidavit.
While the affidavit suggests that McAlhaney was not successful in cutting down the tree, it is not clear how the confrontation ended.
The victim provided a video to SLED. In an interview with state agents, McAlehaney admitted that he attempted to cut the tree down, which could have “caused injury or death,” according to SLED.
The State reached out to the town of Hampton Administration and the police department.
McAlhaney was booked at the Hampton County Detention Center.
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