Aiken officers shot an armed man several times early Tuesday after the suspect rammed a patrol car and then tried to attack an officer with a knife.
Aiken Public Safety Sgt. W. Davis was initially approached by 30-year-old Richard McCarty at the Circle K on Whiskey Road around 1:45 a.m. Tuesday, a press release says. The suspect has a history of violence, drug use and mental health problems.
“An altercation ensued between the officer and the suspect,” ADPS Lt. Jennifer Hayes said in the release. “The suspect rammed the officer’s vehicle with his vehicle several times and then attempted to attack the officer with a knife. Additional officers arrived on scene and engaged the suspect with their weapons hitting the subject multiple times.”
The man was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Police say he survived, but the extent of his injuries was not clear Tuesday morning.
The investigation of this officer-involved shooting was turned over to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). SLED will be charging the subject with attempted murder.
In May 2021, deputies arrested McCarty after he twice bit his wife while tweaking on meth. The wife told officers that he woke up after sleeping most of the day and began “talking out of his head.” Strangers were in their ceiling, he reportedly said, and when she disagreed, McCarty assaulted her.
McCarty bit his wife’s cheek and forearm, choked her to near unconsciousness, punched her and cut her with a knife. In between, deputies said the victim hid the knife and a gun the couple kept in their home. When McCarty couldn’t find them, he allegedly went after his wife again and broke her cellphone. Deputies said she left with his phone and called 911.
At the couple’s home on Joyner Pond Road, McCarty admitted to taking meth, according to reports. “Please tell my wife I’m sorry and that I love her,” he said in handcuffs.
As part of a probationary sentence, he was ordered to go to inpatient treatment, attend both Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous sessions twice a month and go to a mental health counselor at the discretion of probation officers.
A Facebook page for the suspect indicates he runs his own tree removal business.
In Tuesday’s incident, police say McCarty intentionally rammed his 2009 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck into Sgt. Davis’ patrol vehicle while he was on Whiskey Road, causing both vehicles to come to rest on the Regions Bank property. After Sgt. Davis exited his patrol car, McCarty exited his truck with a large knife.
“Sgt. Davis attempted to separate himself from the offender, who continued to pursue him,” a police report says. “At this point, two other officers arrived on the scene and shot the offender.”
McCarty was treated for his injuries until EMS arrived and took him to a local hospital. A report lists the suspect as 6’2″ tall and 250 pounds.
