Daniel J. Gross
Journalist covering public safety and breaking news for The Greenville News and USA Today Network.
Santa Castellon sits alone in a living room with orange and yellow walls that are pierced with bullet holes. There were nearly 25 of them, the detective working on the case told her. Twenty-five that hit the wall she painted the color of the sun.
South Carolina families hurt by gun violence ask what can be done A Greenville mom talks about the night bullets pierced her home, injuring her son. Guns were the leading cause of death for children and teens in SC.
A former Greenville deputy charged with sexual assault is among 33 others in 6 years w/ sustained allegations of "conduct unbecoming of a deputy," a violation that ranges from lying about a fender bender to sexting with crime victims.
Former Greenville deputy charged with sexual assault is among those accused of misconduct Greenville County Sheriff’s Office internal affairs files show dozens of cases of deputies misbehaving by breaking their code of conduct.
Just five days before he was shot and killed, cyclist Whit Oliver had been the latest Hollingsworth Park neighbor to call 911 and warn police that Jeffrey Murray was hostile and threatening.
Days before his death, cyclist Whit Oliver called police about being threatened by Murray 5 days before Whit Oliver was shot and killed while biking in his neighborhood, he told police he had been threatened by the man who would kill him.
911 calls reveal chaos in Mother's Day shooting of cyclist, suggest residents knew gunman Records obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request detail moments around shooting death of Greenville cyclist Whit Oliver on Mother's Day.
Greenville police tackled, tasered and hit more people in 2020 than any time since 2013, according to a use of force report obtained by the Greenville News through FOIA.
Greenville police used force more often in 2020 than any year since 2013, data shows Greenville police tackled, tasered and hit more people in 2020 than any time since 2013, a Greenville News review of police data showed.
Police reports from the fatal shooting of a cyclist in a Greenville neighborhood and the fatal shooting by police of the cyclist's alleged killer are being withheld from the public in violation of the law.
Greenville police are withholding cyclist shooting reports in violation of law Reports from a fatal shooting of an avid cyclist and the police shooting of the cyclist's alleged killer are being withheld from the public.
Our latest regarding ongoing turmoil inside Greenville County EMS. A new petition calls for the director's removal while a councilmember urges the County Administrator to make changes and a recently resigned paramedic speaks out:
New petition calls for removal of Greenville County EMS director as council seeks change A petition circulating online is calling for Greenville County EMS director Dr. Tom Blackwell to step down.
Greenville woman spent 20 days in jail for crime she didn't commit, her lawsuit says.
Deputies had probable cause to make the attempted murder arrest, but waited 15 days before reviewing cellphone evidence that showed her innocence.
Greenville woman spent 20 days in jail for crime she didn't commit, lawsuit says A woman accused in a shooting spent 20 days in the Greenville County jail before deputies reviewed evidence that proved her innocence, according to a new lawsuit.
Video: Internal probe clears Greenville deputies who shot, killed armed man in Greer in February.
Internal probe clears Greenville deputies who shot, killed armed man in Greer in February Greenville County deputies who shot an armed man while trying to serve him with arrest warrants have been cleared through an internal investigation.
Greenville couple that was attacked by pit bulls files lawsuit against dog owner
Greenville couple that was attacked by pit bulls files lawsuit against dog owner A Greenville couple is suing a dog owner two years after they were attacked by unleashed pit bulls.
A new Greenville County EMS survey — conducted to gauge the pulse of current staff after a tumultuous year — is pointing to even more concerns over leadership, decisions, staffing and morale.
Greenville County EMS staff bemoan low morale and leadership decisions in survey Greenville County EMS staff members have raised concerns over low morale, inadequate staffing and distrust in leadership.
Greenville County Sheriff's Office and deputy in door-slam video face civil rights lawsuit A Greenville County deputy seen closing a car door on a handcuffed man's head in a video from 2019 has been placed on paid administrative duty.
After COVID-19 disrupted courts for a year, criminal trials and hearings are soon to resume in SC -- but it could still be years before some victims and defendants see their day in court.
Trials and court hearings to resume in SC, but limbo could linger for victims, suspects COVID-19 has taken a toll on the justice system in South Carolina. Victims and suspects have waited while a backlog built.
Prosecutor clears Greenville County deputies who fired 42 shots to kill armed man Five Greenville deputies who fired 42 shots at an armed man in July 2020 have been cleared of criminal wrongdoing by the Solicitor's Office.
A South Carolina lawmaker wants to see dashcam video exempt from public disclosure through FOIA.
The SC Press Association calls this effort "a huge concern" and an attempt to "shield police misconduct."
https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/2021/02/01/bill-create-foia-office-sc-would-withhold-police-dashcam-video-from-public/4311597001/
Bill to create FOIA review office would withhold police dashcam video from public in SC Footage from law enforcement officers' dashboard-mounted cameras would no longer be available to the public if a new bill becomes law in SC.
Questions remain after reports obtained through FOIA detail how Lisa Hagerty's body was found, and how police handled a domestic violence call before her arrest.
Hagerty's oldest daughter also told me about a longstanding battle with mental illness.
https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/2021/02/01/questions-remain-after-woman-found-dead-near-greenville-sc-jail/4291845001/
Questions remain after woman was found dead in Greenville following release from jail The death of Lisa Marie Hagerty remains under investigation by the Sheriff's Office and Coroner's Office.
South Carolina law enforcement agencies are breaking a law that requires the disclosure of traffic stop information that often reveals racial disparities in policing.
https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/south-carolina/2021/01/28/sc-law-enforcement-agencies-fail-report-info-traffic-stops/4084993001/
SC law enforcement agencies are supposed to report info on traffic stops, but most are not Most law enforcement agencies in SC are failing to report traffic-stop data, information that's used to combat racial bias.
Christopher Manley has been accused of pinning a woman down by her neck with his elbow. He was put on desk duty after his certification was suspended.
https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/south-carolina/2020/09/24/greenville-county-deputy-charged-domestic-violence/5866142002/
Greenville County deputy charged with domestic violence, put on desk duty while suspended A Greenville County sheriff's deputy is accused of pinning a woman to the floor by her neck in a domestic incident in Fountain Inn last month.
'JUST STOP!': Internal memos reveal Greenville police chatter amid George Floyd protests Internal messages and after-action reports obtained through a FOIA request, detail police response and chatter among officers amid protests in downtown Greenville.
Greenville Deputy Ryan Gibson was fired last week after he had "lied during an internal investigation," his training records show. Gibson had made appearances on A&E's Live PD back when GCSO had contracted with the TV show.
https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/south-carolina/2020/08/13/greenville-county-deputy-fired-during-investigation-alleged-misconduct-fatal-shooting-sc/3353923001/?fbclid=IwAR0eh05zsVKqDHmT1ky_zjBRmyWQROS6_yQJjI0u4gKLwb8rUjqlU9O1O64
Greenville County deputy fired during investigation of alleged misconduct A Greenville County deputy was fired last week following an internal investigation, The Greenville News has learned through state training records.
Greenville County's jail population cut down by 1/3 since start of COVID-19 pandemic, but rising again.
https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/south-carolina/2020/08/12/greenville-county-sc-jail-population-cut-1-3-since-start-covid-19-pandemic/3300942001/
Greenville County's jail population cut down by 1/3 since start of COVID-19 pandemic Greenville County's jail population has dropped by about a third as more inmates are being released through home incarceration programs, bonds and pleas.
Five years after South Carolina passed a law requiring law enforcement officers to use body cameras, some still don't have them, some agencies can't find the money to pay for them and there is no statewide oversight to track compliance, an investigation by The Greenville News has found.
SC fails to abide by spirit of its own law as police videos spur demands for justice Body cameras, funding and oversight are lacking five years after South Carolina's landmark law of 2015.
-A former Platinum Plus dancer was handed $15K after she sued the Greenville County Sheriff's Office alleging malicious prosecution. She was one of about 20 people arrested in a 2015 undercover prostitution sting. The woman's charges were dropped.
-Eric Sweet was given $17,500 after he sued the Sheriff's Office over a K-9 bite. A deputy accidentally released his K-9 on Sweet, who was hospitalized for two months.
https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/2020/07/20/greenville-county-settlements-legal-fees-total-600-k-first-quarter-sc/3134426001/
Nearly $600K spent on Greenville County civil settlements and legal fees in first quarter Among 20 settlements that were paid out from January through March, four involved lawsuits against Greenville County.