Sumter County deputies cleared in officer-involved shooting

Two Sumter County sheriff’s deputies who were involved in a man’s shooting July were found to have acted properly by South Carolina Law Enforcement Division investigators, officials said.

Braden Bunch, a Sumter County Sheriff’s Office spokesman, said after reviewing the SLED report on the shooting, 3rd Circuit Solicitor Ernest “Chip” Finney III determined the officers acted properly and won’t face charges.

Bunch said Tuesday Cpl. Symeon Graham and Senior Deputy Desmond Sabb both have returned to full duty with the Sheriff’s Office.

On July 18, the deputies responded to a domestic disturbance call in the 100 block of Colts Run in the Dalzell area, Bunch said. When the deputies arrived, they spoke with 39-year-old Michael Deshawn Dinkins, who became physically aggressive with the deputies outside of the residence, Bunch said.

After first distancing themselves from Dinkins, deputies deployed their tasers in an attempt to subdue the suspect, Bunch said. However Dinkins continued to remain combative with deputies and attempted to reach for one of their holstered weapons. That was when both deputies opened fire on him, Bunch said.

Dinkins was taken to a hospital where he received treatment for gunshot wounds, Bunch said. He has since been released from the hospital.

Dinkins has been charged with first-degree assault and battery, two counts of exposing his private parts in a lewd and lascivious manner and two counts of resisting arrest with a deadly weapon, Bunch said. Dinkins received a $16,000 bond for the charges.

This story was originally published September 8, 2015 at 12:04 PM.