Suspect back at MCG, to be extradited to S.C. 6/17/2009 12:03 AM
By KAREN DAILY Staff writer
The Aiken County Sheriff's Office had posted a guard at the hospital room door of an injured murder suspect who walked away from the Medical College of Georgia over the weekend and then returned Tuesday morning, but officials said the local deputy really has no arrest powers in Georgia.
The 40-year-old Terrance Riley of Columbia was hospitalized Friday at MCG after he was critically injured when he and three other men reportedly shot and killed a Ridge Spring man. Riley was caught in the crossfire and was taken to the hospital with injuries that officials were initially told could be fatal.
While Riley was hospitalized, the Aiken County Sheriff's Office held warrants for his arrest, but he was not in custody.
Sheriff's Office Capt. Troy Elwell explained that the moment a person is charged, the County takes on the burden of not only paying for his security but also paying his medical bills and added that the sheriff's office cannot take on those bills.
He said law enforcement relies on hospital officials to keep them up-to-date on that patient's condition.
Patients in critical condition are not typically guarded until their condition improves, and they become ambulatory enough to be a flight risk, he said. A hospital will notify law enforcement officers when a patient's condition does improve, but that did not occur this time, he said.
"The victim's family notified us that he was gone," Elwell said. "We didn't hear it from the hospital."
Upon Riley's return to the hospital Tuesday morning, Aiken County officials said they still hadn't heard from MCG.
An Aiken Public Safety officer who took the suspect to MCG Tuesday was the first to call the sheriff's office, which, in turn, sent an investigator to Georgia.
Aiken County Sheriff's Office officials then asked Richmond County, Ga., deputies for help.
"We have no jurisdiction there," Elwell said. "Our deputy is really only there to make sure that, as soon as he improves, he will be taken into custody."
The incident has made officials at Aiken County re-evaluate procedures, but Elwell said he couldn't say what, if any, changes will be implemented.
Even after Riley is released, arresting the accused murderer is not a simple matter of bringing him back to Aiken, said Sgt. Dave Myers, a spokesperson for the Aiken County Sheriff's Office.
"As soon as the hospital releases him, a law enforcement agency there, which in this case is Richmond County, will take him into custody on our charges," Myers explained.
Officials said that MCG police do have arrest powers, but Richmond County was willing to help with the case.
Riley can fight or waive extradition but will eventually be brought back to South Carolina where he will face murder charges.
Anytime a patient is taken across the river, he must first be released to an officer with arrest powers in Georgia.
Contact Karen Daily at kdaily@aikenstandard.com.
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Comment Title: Sheriff's Misconduct
The sheriff violated SC SECTION 23-15-50. Arrest of persons against whom process issued; bail. This law states, "The sheriff or his deputy shall arrest all persons against whom process for that purpose shall issue from any competent authority commanding such person to be taken into custody or requiring him to give bond, with security. If the party so arrested, being entitled to bail, shall give it or shall give the bond with security required, such person shall be released; and if not, he shall be kept in custody until discharged from confinement according to law."
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Posted by: On: Thursday, June 18, 2009 11:25 AM
Comment Title: Stick MCG with the Bill
First Mike Hunt breaks to law by failing to serve an outstanding arrest warrant, lawfully issued by an Aiken County summary court judge, for murder when the suspect is in his custody, then he wants to stick MCG with all the medical bills, and now he want to blame MCG for his failure to protect and serve and comply with the "Public Duty Rule."
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Posted by: Bruce On: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 9:10 PM
Comment Title: Troy is a liar
This is contrary to what Troy said in his press release published on the Sheriff's webpage on June 12, 2009 which states that all four suspects were in their custody. They don't know what the truth is at this point and the cops are worst than the criminals in Aiken
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Posted by: On: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 11:46 AM
Comment Title:
Why is the taxpayer on the hook for his medical treatment? Let violent criminals die.
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Posted by: On: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 8:29 AM
Comment Title: It's all about communication
What we have here is a failure to communicate! I'm sure the MCG Police would have been glad to hold the suspect if notified by Aiken County. What am I missing?
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Posted by: On: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 8:11 AM
Comment Title: What the???
If you don't know, The Hospital is privately owned. The Police force is there for the campus. These are two seperate issues. If ACSO wanted him watched or needed assistance from MCG Police, all they had to do was ask the right people. MCG Police pick up wanted people monthly and take them to jail for other agencies. However, when you depend on "Hospital People" to get involved with police matters...This is what happens.
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