Richland County SC Deputy Dies

[citcop]

Deputy Darral Lane of the Richland County Sheriff's Department died this morning during an arrest. God Speed to you Deputy Lane.

Deputy Dies During Arrest In Richland County
From Live 5 News
A deputy is dead and two men are behind bars this afternoon after a police chase this morning in Richland County.

It happened early this morning after a deputy chased a car off Interstate 277.

When it stopped, police say the deputy was confronted by three suspects. He was able to get one in cuffs before the deputy collapsed and died.

Right now, police are reviewing his dash cam video to figure out exactly what happened to him.

A second suspect has been arrested, while the third man is still on the run.

http://www.live5news.com/home/12507416.html

Richland County (WLTX) - Prosecutors now say they'll charge a man involved in a police chase with a deputy with involuntary manslaughter.

The solicitor's office looked at the evidence, and decided that the actions of 33-year-old Matthew Denny Hooks led to the death of 41-year-old Deputy Darral Lane. That decision came after hearing from Richland County Coroner Gary Watts.

Lane died of a heart attack during a confrontation with several people he'd been chasing just moments before.

"He was a great cop. He was doing his job, we're proud of him," Lott says of Lane.

Three men were involved in the incident. Two have been taken into custody, but Hooks remains at large.

Lott says they believe Lane noticed a suspicious vehicle behind the Pitt Stop on 5820 Fairfield Road around 5:30 a.m. When the officer approached the car, it sped off.

Lane tried to stop the car, but the driver didn't pull over. After going down several streets, the chase ended behind a home Burton Street. Lott says the men jumped out of the car, and the deputy approached them.

Lane got two of the men to get down on the ground. Hooks, who officers say was the driver, ran from the scene.

While Lane was putting handcuffs on one of the men, videotape taken from his cruiser shows the officer suddenly collapsing. The man in handcuffs remained at the scene. The other man on the ground got up and ran.

A nearby resident saw some of the commotion and called 911 to get Lane help. Deputies tried to give Lane CPR. He was taken to Palmetto Health Richland where he was pronounced dead.

Lott says the man who was on the ground, but who then ran, later contacted a lawyer and turned himself in.

"It's a tragic situation for the family of the Richland County Sheriff's Department," Lt. Chris Cowan says. "It's a situation where words can't describe what we're going through, what his family is going through...While we were asleep, he was out there protecting us and our families."

Lott was at times emotional as he talked about the loss. He says Lane was good about patrolling his area, Region 3, and had recently been named deputy of the quarter. Lott says he'd even had lunch with him recently.

Lott says Lane served over 20 years in Army, joining his department in February of 2006. Lane leaves behind a wife and two adult sons.

Cowan says the men were believed to be driving a dark Acura with a stolen tag. At this point, Lott says no charges have been filed against the two passengers in the car. He says they didn't join up with Hooks until later in the night.

Lott adds that the man in the handcuffs made attempts to try and get Lane help. Lott says the tape shows confusion as the man initially runs, then comes back and tries to use the radio.

If anyone has information on where Hooks is, call Crimestoppers at 1-888-559-TIPS.

http://www.wltx.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=56579

[deputywave]

Thoughts and prayers sent. RIP Deputy Lane