By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
• A South Carolina police chief was wounded during a vehicle pursuit and a statewide Blue Alert was issued.
• The suspect, identified as 37-year-old Lacey Nicole Cushman, was taken into custody following the alert.
• The chase began in Orangeburg County and continued into Barnwell County before the arrest.
• The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is investigating and Cushman faces multiple charges.
SPRINGFIELD, SC — A Springfield, South Carolina, police chief was wounded during a pursuit Monday night, prompting a statewide Blue Alert and the eventual arrest of a suspect, officials said.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) said the chase began in Orangeburg County and extended into neighboring Barnwell County as officers pursued a vehicle driven by 37-year-old Lacey Nicole Cushman. During the incident, Cushman allegedly fired into the chief’s vehicle, injuring him, according to SLED.
Authorities issued a Blue Alert, which mobilized law enforcement agencies across the state to locate the armed and dangerous suspect. Cushman was found and taken into custody in Orangeburg County early the next morning without further incident.
SLED confirmed the investigation remains active and that Cushman has been charged with attempted murder, failure to stop for a blue light and other crimes related to the incident.
Officials said the police chief was recovering following the shooting, and local agencies are coordinating with SLED as the case proceeds through the courts.