SC police officer assaulted female prisoner while transporting her to jail, chief says
A former Columbia police officer is behind bars after inappropriately touching and sexually propositioning a female prisoner he was transporting to jail, according to the Columbia Police Department.
Early Wednesday morning, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division arrested Caleb Hickmon-Payne, 26, and charged him with second degree assault and battery and misconduct in office, after the former officer assaulted a female detainee he was supposed to be taking to the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, according to Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook.
Following a traffic stop by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department on Jan. 31, it was discovered that the woman had an active Columbia Police Department bench warrant. Deputies alerted CPD, and Hickmon-Payne responded, taking the woman into custody, Holbrook said.
From the traffic stop, Hickmon-Payne returned to police headquarters to retrieve and complete paperwork relating to the woman’s warrant, Holbrook said.
Hickmon-Payne then began his trip to the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, with the woman in tow.
But Hickmon-Payne didn’t take the woman straight to jail and failed to report his beginning and ending mileage during the transport, Holbrook said. What should’ve been a 19 minute trip from police headquarters to the jail took Hickmon-Payne 41 minutes. In addition, he deactivated his body-worn and in-car cameras during the trip, according to Holbrook.
Holbrook did not say where Hickmon-Payne took the woman en route to the jail, citing an ongoing investigation.
On Feb. 5, the woman reported to officers that Hickmon-Payne had assaulted and propositioned her for a sex act on the night of Jan. 31.
On Feb. 6, the woman provided officers with a detailed account of her encounter with Hickmon-Payne, leading Holbrook to suspend the officer the same day without pay.
On Feb. 7, CPD internal affairs “began reviewing dispatch records, radio transmissions, body worn and in car cameras and vehicle GPS locator equipment,” Holbrook said, leading to Hickmon-Payne being fired, as SLED conducted its independent investigation.
SLED ultimately presented its findings to the 5th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, resulting in the charges against Hickmon-Payne, Holbrook said.
The second degree assault charge is a “result of the unlawful, inappropriate touching of a female prisoner without her consent while being transported to the jail and in our custody,” Holbrook told reporters.
The misconduct in office charge arises from Hickmon-Payne’s comments and proposition for sex toward a female prisoner while in his official capacity as a sworn officer, Holbrook said.
Holbrook touted the role technology played in helping to catch Hickmon-Payne.
“Beginning in 2015 we embraced and introduced body worn cameras to all our line officers, followed by in car cameras, vehicle locators, our CAD system and surveillance system throughout our city,” Holbrook said.
CAD, or computer-aided dispatch, is a tool law enforcement agencies use to manage and coordinate emergency response activities, dispatch resources and track incidents in real-time.
“There’s an incredible amount of accountability and technology that allows us to make sure we’re always doing the right thing and for the right reasons.”
Hickmon-Payne was hired by CPD on Dec. 27, 2022, according to Holbrook, who has vowed to ensure that Hickmon-Payne never serves as a police officer again.
“I apologize to the citizens of Columbia and everyone who wears this badge,” Holbrook said with a hint of emotion. “I can assure you that this does not represent the men and women who make up the rank and file of this department. We are a department that demonstrates professionalism, accountability, fairness, impartiality and constitutional policing every single day.”
This story was originally published March 12, 2025 at 10:53 AM.
