Detention officers charged after unwanted touching of female inmates, SLED says (2024)

643. IT’S TIME FOR NEWS TO GO. WE HAVE A LOOK AT TODAY’S TOP NEWS STORIES. TRAFFIC AND WEATHER. ALL BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT THE DOOR ON THIS THURSDAY MORNING. BUT WE START WITH A CONTINUATION OF OUR COVERAGE IN THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE TONIGHT. AND BASED OFF A NEW POLL ABOUT WHAT VOTERS SAY ABOUT JOB APPROVAL RATINGS. OUR ISABEL MARK HAS MORE. ISABEL. ERIN. GOOD MORNING. A NEW QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY POLL SAYS BIDEN’S JOB APPROVAL RATING HAS GONE UP IN THIS JUNE POLL, VOTERS GAVE PRESIDENT BIDEN A 58% JOB APPROVAL RATING, WHICH IS A 2% INCREASE COMPARED TO 56% BACK IN 2022. FOR THE DEBATE IN ATLANTA TONIGHT, PRESIDENT BIDEN’S BEEN AT CAMP DAVID SINCE LAST WEEK FOR DEBATE PREPARATION, AND FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP HELD PRIVATE MEETINGS AT HIS FLORIDA ESTATE, GEARING UP FOR THE BIG NIGHT. THE DEBATE TONIGHT WILL LAST ABOUT 90 MINUTES, AND DON’T FORGET TO TUNE IN TO TONIGHT FOR LIVE COVERAGE FROM OUR VERY OWN NIGEL ROBERTSON RIGHT HERE ON WIFE FOUR. BACK TO YOU. ISABEL. THANK YOU. AS WE MENTIONED IN TONIGHT’S THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE OF THE 2024 GENERAL ELECTION, PRESIDENT BIDEN AND FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL TAKE THE STAGE IN WHAT WILL BE A PRETTY UNFAMILIAR FORMAT WITH NEW RULES. CHRISTOPHER SALAS FROM OUR WASHINGTON BUREAU IS LIVE IN ATLANTA WITH A PREVIEW OF WHAT WE CAN EXPECT. CHRISTOPHER. ERIN. GOOD MORNING. IT IS TWO PRESIDENTS TAKING THE DEBATE STAGE TONIGHT IN ATLANTA FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FOUR YEARS. NOW, WHEN BOTH CANDIDATES GET ON THE STAGE, THEY’RE GOING TO TRY AND CONVINCE A DEEPLY DIVIDED NATION WHY THEY ARE THE RIGHT PERSON TO RETAKE THE WHITE HOUSE. THE MOST ANTICIPATED EVENT THUS FAR OF THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN, THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE. PERCEPTIONS CAN BE SHAPED, EITHER STRENGTHENED OR WEAKENED BY THEIR PERFORMANCE DURING THE DEBATE. PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN IS EXPECTED TO FOCUS ON HIS PREDECESSOR’S LEGAL TROUBLES AND ISSUES LIKE REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS. IT WAS DONALD TRUMP WHO RIPPED AWAY THE RIGHTS OF FREEDOM, OF WOMEN IN AMERICA. IT’LL BE ALL OF US WHO RESTORE THOSE RIGHTS FOR WOMEN IN AMERICA. WHILE FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IS EXPECTED TO TARGET ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AND THE ECONOMY. LOOK, INFLATION, THIS IS WHAT IT DOES TO YOU. THIS IS TIK TOK NOW. IT USED TO BE THAT. BUT TRUMP WON’T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM THOSE THEATRICS ON THE DEBATE STAGE THURSDAY NIGHT. UNDER THE RULES, PROPS AND PRE-WRITTEN NOTES ARE PROHIBITED. CANDIDATE MICROPHONES WILL BE MUTED ONCE THEIR TURN IS OVER, AND THERE WILL NOT BE A LIVE STUDIO AUDIENCE. THIS HAS AT LEAST ALL THE PRETENSE OF BEING A MUCH MORE CIVILIZED. ONE PERSON SPEAKS, THE OTHER PERSON RESPONDS, WHICH IS NOT THE WAY DEBATES HAVE BEEN FOR THE LAST NUMBER OF ELECTIONS. AND OF COURSE, IT’S INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THE CANDIDATES RESPOND TO QUESTIONS ON THE ISSUES, BUT PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT ANSWERS COMING OUT OF THE DEBATE TONIGHT MIGHT COME FROM QUESTIONS OF COMPETENCE AND CHARACTER. BECAUSE POLLS SHOW A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF VOTERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN’S MENTAL AND PHYSICAL FITNESS AND A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF VOTERS ARE ALSO WORRIED ABOUT FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S LEGAL TROUBLES, PARTICULARLY NOW THAT HE HAS FELONY CONVICTIONS IN ATLANTA. I’M CHRISTOPHER SALAS W WYFF NEWS FOUR. CHRISTOPHER THANK YOU. MEANWHILE, OUR NIGEL ROBERTSON WILL ALSO BE IN ATLANTA TONIGHT BRINGING YOU THAT LIVE COVERAGE AHEAD. AND AFTER THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE YOU CAN WATCH THAT RIGHT HERE ON WYFF NEWS FOUR. ANDERSON COUNTY IS TAKING A DEEPER LOOK AFTER DUPLICATE ABSENTEE BALLOTS FOR THE JUNE PRIMARY WERE MISTAKENLY SENT TO VOTERS. THE ANDERSON REGISTRATION AND ELECTIONS ANNOUNCED THE MISTAKE BACK IN MAY, BUT NOW COUNTY LEADERS ARE WANTING TO KNOW HOW IT HAPPENED. COUNTY DIRECTOR OF VOTER REGISTRATION AND ELECTIONS LAURA BOOTH TOLD COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT THE MISTAKE WAS MADE BY A VENDOR USED FOR ABSENTEE BALLOTS TO PRINT AND VISUAL IMPRESSIONS. IS THAT VENDOR ELECTION OFFICIALS SAY THE VENDORS UNCERTAINTY OF HOW THE ERROR HAPPENED RAISED CONCERNS WITH THEM ABOUT THE INTEGRITY AND RELIABILITY OF THE ABSENTEE VOTING PROCESS. AFTER BOOTH NOTIFIED THE COMMISSION, THEY WENT TO WORK TO FIGURE OUT WHAT REALLY HAPPENED. OUR UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY SOME FAULTY EQUIPMENT THAT THE VENDOR WAS USING TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS, AND SO ON, AND, YOU KNOW, GET THE JOB DONE. KEEP IT HONEST, KEEP IT STRAIGHT. THERE WAS SO MUCH OF A MESS LAST TIME. BOOTH SAYS THE COUNTY WILL NOT BE USING THAT VENDOR ANYMORE, BUT THE VENDOR IS STILL ON THE ELECTION COMMISSION’S LIST OF APPROVAL. IT WILL HAVE TO PASS ANOTHER VETTING PROCESS, THOUGH, WHICH WILL BE DONE BEFORE NOVEMBER. WELL, SOME OF US ARE GETTING SOME MUCH NEEDED RAIN, OTHERS GOING TO BENEFIT FROM CLOUDS THAT WILL KEEP US A LITTLE BIT COOLER. A LIVE LOOK IN LAURENS. LOOK AT THAT DOWNTOWN. DON’T YOU JUST WANT TO GO HAVE A CUP OF COFFEE, SOME TEA, WHATEVER. HANG OUT. IT LOOKS VERY, VERY NICE. AS WE TAKE A LOOK AT LAKE HARTWELL. VERY POPULAR THIS TIME OF YEAR. HEY, WE’RE WARM, 78 DEGREES IN GREENVILLE. WE’VE GOT 74 IN HARTWELL. GOOD MORNING. PICKENS 72 FOR YOU. A FEW STRAY SHOWERS ACROSS PARTS OF PICKENS COUNTY PUSHING INTO GREENVILLE COUNTY. ANDERSON, CLEMSON, ASHEVILLE. YOU’RE PICKING UP ON SOME RAIN AS WELL. DUNN’S ROCK. WAYNESVILLE. OH MY GOODNESS. THERE YOU ARE. QUITE BLESSED. THIS MORNING THAT’S FOR SURE. AS WE TAKE A LOOK WE’RE GOING INTO THE UPPER 80S TO RIGHT AROUND 90 DEGREES. WE’VE GOT SOME RAIN CHANCES THIS MORNING AND THEN WE’LL SEE SOME MORE HEADING OUR WAY THIS AFTERNOON. SO IF YOU DIDN’T GET ANY THIS MORNING, YOU STILL GOT ANOTHER CHANCE. IT’S COMING FOR YOU LATER TODAY. AND CERTAINLY BY THE WEEKEND. WE’LL TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR FOUR DAY PLUS. I’LL HAVE THE LATEST ON THAT COMING UP FOR YOU HERE IN JUST A LITTLE WHILE. ERIN PARELLA, LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT THE ROADS NOW. SKY4 IS UP IN THE AIR FOR US THIS MORNING, KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON THINGS. I-85 AT HIGHWAY 101 STILL SMOOTH SAILING EVEN AT 648. WE TEND TO SEE THOSE SLOWDOWNS, BUT WE ARE NOT SEEING THEM AS OF YET. THIS MORNING IN THAT AREA. THAT’S FANTASTIC NEWS. TRAVEL TIMES, FANTASTIC NEWS THERE AS WELL. STILL IN THE GREEN I-240 TO ASHEVILLE HIGHWAY JUST WENT DOWN AS YOU SAW ON YOUR SCREEN TO 12 MINUTES. AIRPORT TO WOODRUFF ROAD THOUGH. WENT UP TO TWO MINUTES. AGAIN TRADITIONAL WITH WHAT WE SEE THIS TIME OF THE MORNING. 35 NORTHBOUND FAIRVIEW ROAD TO DOWNTOWN GREENVILLE, HOLDING STEADY AT 13 MINUTES. THERE, AN ANDERSON COUNTY MAN IS CHARGED WITH SELLING LOTTERY TICKETS AND THEN POCKETING THE MONEY. SLED AGENTS SAY CALEB CRUZ WORKED AT A STOP A MINUTE GAS STATION ON THE HIGHWAY 28 BYPASS. SELES SAID HE SOLD THE SCRATCH OFF LOTTERY TICKETS AT A DISCOUNTED RATE AND THEN KEPT THE MONEY INSTEAD OF PUTTING IT IN THE CASH REGISTER. CRUZ WAS BOOKED INTO THE DETENTION CENTER BUT HAS BEEN RELEASED. AND TAKE A CLOSE LOOK. LOOK AT THIS PHOTO ON YOUR SCREEN RIGHT NOW. DO YOU RECOGNIZE THIS CAR? IF YOU DO, CALL ANDERSON COUNTY DEPUTIES BECAUSE THEY SAY IT’S CONNECTED TO A CHURCH BREAK IN. DETECTIVES ARE TRYING TO IDENTIFY THE MEN IN THE PHOTOS. THEY SAY THEY WERE IN THIS CAR WITH DISTINCT PAINT ON THE HOOD. THAT’S A GREEN HONDA ACCORD. AND DEPUTIES SAY THEY’RE INVESTIGATING A BREAK IN AT WHITEFIELD BAPTIST CHURCH IN BELTON. IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING, CALL ANDERSON COUNTY. A POPULAR DOWNTOWN RESTAURANT IS SET TO REOPEN TODAY AFTER A FIRE. WE’RE TOLD CREWS WERE CALLED TO TRIO ITALIAN RESTAURANT ON NORTH MAIN STREET AROUND 1130 YESTERDAY MORNING. A RESTAURANT WORKER THERE TOLD US THEY EXPERIENCED A CHIMNEY FIRE THAT FILLED THE BUILDING WITH SMOKE AND FORCED EVACUATIONS. AGAIN, THE RESTAURANT IS EXPECTED TO BE BACK OPEN TODAY. AND IN BUDGET NEWS, THE SOUTH CAROLINA STATE BUDGET IS ON ITS WAY TO GOVERNOR HENRY MCMASTER’S DESK DURING A SPECIAL SESSION, STATE LAWMAKERS PASSED THE NEW SPENDING PLAN THAT MORE THAN $13 BILLION BUDGET INCLUDES AN INCOME TAX CUT, PAY RAISES FOR ALL TEACHERS AND STATE EMPLOYEES, AND ALSO MONEY TO FINISH THE NEW SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE AT CLEMSON UNIVERSITY. THE GOVERNOR HAS UP TO FIVE DAYS TO REVIEW IT AND ISSUE VETOES. THE STATE BUDGET GOES INTO EFFECT STARTING ON JULY FIRST. INCLUDED IN THAT BUDGET IS $6.5 MILLION TO CREATE RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS FOR CHILD VICTIMS OF SEX AND LABOR TRAFFICKING. THE STATE’S HUMAN TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE SAYS THIS IS THE MISSING PIECE. LAW ENFORCEMENT, HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND EVEN THE PUBLIC ARE BEING TRAINED TO IDENTIFY VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING. BUT ONCE IDENTIFIED, THERE’S NOWHERE FOR CHILD VICTIMS TO GO. CURRENTLY IN SOUTH CAROLINA, MANY OF THESE KIDS ARE BEING HELD AT DJJ. WE DON’T WANT TO SEE CHILDREN WHO ARE ACTUALLY VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING BEING PLACED IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SERVICES, CLINICAL SERVICES, TO HELP THEM WITH THE COMPLEX TRAUMA THAT THEY’VE ENDURED FROM THEIR TRAFFICKERS. CATHERINE MOREHEAD SAYS THIS MONEY WILL HELP THE TASK FORCE BUILD RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS TO HELP THOSE YOUNG VICTIMS BECOME WHOLE AGAIN. IN COMMITMENT 2024, WE’RE LEARNING OF THE 46 MEMBERS THAT MAKE UP THE SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE, NEARLY ALL WILL BE MEN. THIS COMES AS THREE FEMALE SENATORS LOST THEIR REPUBLICAN PRIMARY RUNOFF CHALLENGES TO MALE CHALLENGERS, ONE OF THEM BEING THE LONGEST SERVING FEMALE SENATOR. KATRINA SHEALY OF LEXINGTON COUNTY. SHE SAYS HER ABORTION STANCE LED TO HER DEFEAT. I THINK THAT JUST BECAUSE I STOOD UP AND TOOK TOOK ON THE FACT THAT I DON’T BELIEVE, YOU KNOW, IN ZERO EXCEPTIONS AND I DON’T BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, CONCEPTION, NO, NO EXCEPTIONS IS THE RIGHT WAY TO BE THAT. I THINK WOMEN HAVE SOME RIGHTS, YOU KNOW, OVER THEIR OWN BODY. I THINK THAT THAT YOU KNOW, IS PROBABLY WHAT LOST ME THIS RACE. THERE ARE TWO FEMALE DEMOCRATIC STAT