Policeman arrested for what he took at traffic stop but didn’t report, SC cops say
A Midlands man, who used to be a police officer, was recently arrested for failing to turn in an item he confiscated while on duty to his department’s evidence room, according to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.
The item that Connor O’Neal Gartman didn’t bring to evidence is a gun, SLED said Thursday in a news release. The 25-year-old Orangeburg resident was formerly a public safety officer with the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety, according to the release.
On July 6, 2025, Gartman was on duty when he conducted a traffic stop, an arrest warrant shows. After pulling over the vehicle, Gartman “took into his care, custody and control a Glock 23 .40 caliber handgun,” the arrest warrant said.
The pistol was last seen in Gartman’s possession on recordings from the stop, according to the arrest warrant. The gun was never turned in to the department of public safety’s evidence room nor was the seizure, or return, of the weapon documented by Gartman in his incident report, the arrest warrant said.
SLED agents interviewed Gartman, who denied knowing what happened to the gun, according to the arrest warrant. But during the investigation a witness said Gartman sold them a pistol matching the same description and serial number of the gun from the traffic stop, the arrest warrant said.
That same gun was later reported stolen in Richland County, according to the arrest warrant.
The department of public safety asked SLED to lead an investigation.
Gartman was arrested Monday, SLED said in the release. He was taken to the Orangeburg County Detention Center, where he was charged with misconduct in office, according to the release.
Bond was set at $1,000 and posted the same day he was taken into custody, Orangeburg County court records show.
He will be prosecuted by the 1st Circuit Solicitor’s Office. Gartman is scheduled to return to court on May 12, according to judicial records.
There was no word about how, or when, Gartman parted company with the department of public safety, as it was not clear if he was fired or resigned.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREThis is a breaking news story
In a breaking news situation, facts can be unclear and the situation may still be developing. The State is trying to get important information to the public as quickly and accurately as possible. This story will be updated as more information becomes available, and some information in this story may change as the facts become clearer. Refresh this page later for more updated information.
