In a surprising turn of events, Hampton Police Chief Perry McAlhaney was arrested on August 1st following a bizarre incident last November. McAlhaney was cutting down a tree with a chainsaw, but the alarming part is why he was doing it: a man was sitting in the tree, deer hunting.
The State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) arrested McAlhaney, who is well-known in Murdaugh country, on charges of third-degree assault and battery. This misdemeanor carries potential penalties of a fine less than $500, up to 30 days in prison, or both.Â
The identity of the deer hunter, who had paid a local resident $500 for access to the property, remains undisclosed as it was redacted in the SLED affidavit. The hunter was situated in a deer stand in a tree when McAlhaney, a neighboring resident, confronted him, accusing him of trespassing.
In an unexpected escalation, McAlhaney retrieved a chainsaw and began cutting down the tree with the hunter still perched in it. The entire episode was captured on camera by the hunter, though the footage was not included in the SLED news release. The police chief admitted to the crime.Â
Efforts to reach the City of Hampton for a comment were unsuccessful. Calls to the Hampton Police Department went unanswered during business hours.
This incident highlights the severe consequences of impulsive decisions, even by those sworn to uphold the law.