Less than two weeks after a deputy was killed in the line of duty, bond was denied for a man who admitted in court he didn’t fire a rifle at a deputy because the weapon jammed.
Rudolph Vincent Shuler of Felderville Road in Santee is charged with pointing and presenting a firearm and criminal domestic violence.
“Given the situation with the assaults on our officer recently, one an officer fatality, we ask that bond would be denied,” Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Lt. James Shumpert said.
“Do you have any objection to your bond being denied?” Orangeburg County Chief Magistrate Sam Daily said.
“No,” Shuler said.
“Okay, we’ll grant the request of the state. We will deny your bond,” Daily said.
Shuler was charged after a deputy responded to a domestic-related incident at a Dre Court residence in Santee around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
“You have another charge, and that is pointing a gun at a police officer,” Daily said.
“Naw, that was my finger,” Shuler said.
According to warrants, Shuler had approached his estranged wife and threatened to shoot her male acquaintance.
When the deputy arrived, Shuler allegedly pointed a .22-caliber rifle at the officer. Ironically, that deputy was Cpl. William Ketcherside, the officer who arrived only moments after Cpl. William Howell was shot and killed during a violent domestic situation in Holly Hill on May 3.
“You tried to shoot that gun?” Daily said.
“No, it wouldn’t shoot,” Shuler said. “I would’ve shot but it wouldn’t.”
“Did you hear that?” Daily asked, turning to Shumpert.
“Yes, sir,” Shumpert said.
Just 11 days after losing an officer to a volatile domestic situation, Sheriff Larry Williams said he will work with the solicitor’s office to ensure Shuler serves the maximum time in jail.
“It’s almost deja vu,” Williams said. “I’m fed up with my officers trying to protect the rights of the victims and these lowlifes are trying to gun them down.”
The Santee man’s first date in court is July 21.
T&D Staff Writer Richard Walker can be reached by e-mail at rwalker@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5516.