Advertisement Officers on leave after arrest; SLED asked to investigate Brian Hatcher remains hospitalized; family raises questions Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Two Honea Path officers are on administrative leave as SLED investigates an arrest made by those officers.Honea Path Police Chief David King released a statement Saturday that said Brian Hatcher, 34, was arrested and charged Friday night with failure to stop for a blue light, driving under suspension and resisting arrest. He declined to describe Hatcher's injuries that required hospitalization.Hatcher's family told WYFF on Monday that his nose is broken in several places and that his jaw was shattered. Hatcher's right ear drum was shattered and his right eye had almost dislodge from its socket, according to relatives.Also on Monday, police released an incident report that said the suspect was driving a vehicle that was possibly tied to drug activity. The report said the suspect sped by officers and did not stop right away after police turned on their blue lights. According to the incident report, the suspect was armed with a knife and refused to drop it.King has not said whether Hatcher will face a weapons charge for having a knife.The suspect's sister, Shirley Hatcher, said relatives learned around 10:30 p.m. that Brian had been hurt sometime around 9 p.m."A friend who listens to scanner traffic heard he had a serious head injury," Hatcher told WYFF. "We all assumed he was in a traffic wreck."Shirley Hatcher said when she reached the hospital, she was told her brother was in critical condition with a head injury, along with multiple cuts and broken bones in his face."A hospital staff member said 'I don't know what to tell you, but he did not have a wreck,'" Hatcher said. "I had a feeling they weren't allowed to tell us what really happened. We think he may have been beaten."Brian Hatcher underwent surgery on Sunday for reconstructive surgery on his face, his sister said.When the family arrived at the hospital Friday night, Shirley Hatcher said four tickets were issued against her brother for reckless driving, driving under suspension, possession of drug paraphernalia,and failure to stop for blue lights. She said the resisting arrest charge did not come until Saturday."I think that's something police added after they knew the media found out about it," Hatcher said.Over the weekend, SLED had little information to say about the investigation."The suspect was originally compliant with the officer's instructions," SLED spokesman Thom Berry told WYFF. "Based on initial information into SLED, police were attempting to arrest the individual when the subject pulled out a knife and a fight ensued."Hatcher was first taken to AnMed Health and then transferred to Greenville Memorial, according to Berry.As of Tuesday, Hatcher was listed in serious condition.