Columbia, SC (WLTX) – A former South Carolina state trooper who shot an unarmed man has been arrested and is facing a charge of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature.
Meanwhile, the video of that encounter has been shown in public for the first time.
Sean Groubert, 31, was booked Wednesday afternoon at the Richland County Detention Center. Bond was set at $75,000.
The charges were brought by the Fifth Circuit Solicitor’s office, which reviewed the findings of an investigation into the incident conducted by the State Law Enforcement Division.
A warrant states that audio and visual recordings, as well as written statements, indicate the shooting was without justification.
On September 19th, the South Carolina Department of Public Safety fired Groubert after a review of the same SLED report. Department of Public Safety Director Leroy Smith said Groubert did not follow protocol when he shot 35-year-old Levar Jones at the Circle K at Broad River Road following a traffic stop back on September 4th.Previous Coverage:Trooper Fired for Shooting Unarmed Man
Smith said Groubert asked Jones to get out of his car during the stop, and when Jones went to get his license out of his vehicle, Groubert began yelling “get out of the car” and shot Jones.
During the bond hearing, the judge was shown the dash cam video from Groubert’s patrol car.
Jones suffered an injury to his hip. His attorney said he Jones is recovering after a stay in the hospital.
In dismissing Groubert, Smith called the facts of the case “disturbing.”
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