By Glen Luke Flanagan
The State
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Two Cayce officers who were involved in a fatal shootout with a suspect in November have been cleared after an investigation by the State Law Enforcement Division.
Demetrius Bryant, 21, died after exchanging gunfire with the officers on the 1900 block of Lorick Street, a few blocks west of the Congaree River on Nov. 17, 2015. Bryant opened fire, injuring one officer, before the officers fired back, officials said.
SLED investigated the shooting and presented its findings to the 11th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, which found “lack of any sufficient evidence that would support criminal charges against our officers,” according to the Cayce Department of Public Safety. The police department also conducted an internal investigation and found no violations of policy or procedure.
One of the officers involved, Rhett Kelly, began his career with the department in April 2013 and has a total of eight years of law enforcement experience. At the time of the incident, Kelly was assigned to the patrol division, but has now returned to work on limited duty as he recovers from his injuries.
Another officer involved, Sgt. Frank Ballentine, began his career with the department in February 1993. He has 23 years of law enforcement experience and has been in a supervisory capacity since 1998. Prior to his law enforcement career, Ballentine was a U.S. Marine. Ballentine is assigned to the patrol division as a shift supervisor and returned to full duty on Feb. 8, 2016.
Coypright 2016 The State