Charges of misconduct and assault against a former Aiken County deputy stemming from a traffic stop incident

By Pennie Spruill On Dec 2, 2023

A deputy from the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office who was fired in March for firing his gun during a traffic stop is now being charged with a crime.

A 31-year-old man named Christopher Lamar Williams was arrested on December 1 and charged with misconduct in office, first-degree assault and battery, and other crimes related to the event, the State Law Enforcement Division said Friday afternoon.

The charges were linked to a driving stop on March 7 on Schley Street in Warrenville.

The warrants say Williams pulled over a 1997 Nissan Pathfinder because the driver didn’t stay in their lane. He asked the driver to get out of the car, but the driver refused. Warrants say Williams was standing next to the open door of the driver’s car when the driver put the car in drive and sped off from the police.

Then Williams pulled out the gun that the ACSO had given him and fired a shot, hitting the back of the car as it drove off, the warrants said.

Based on video from inside the car, the driver wasn’t really a threat to Williams other than running away from the scene of the crime.

Williams was fired from his job as sheriff in March.

Williams was taken to the Aiken County Detention Center to be booked. The case will be brought by the Second Circuit Solicitor’s Office.