Fired Florence County deputy hit handcuffed victim on head with flashlight, documents say

FLORENCE, SC (WBTW) – A Florence County deputy was fired after hitting a handcuffed victim on the head with a flashlight, termination documents say.

According to the documents, Brian Proffitt was fired after he hit a handcuffed victim several times on the top of the head with a flashlight. He also allegedly charged the victim with trespassing even though the person who complained chose not to press charges.

The documents also allege that Proffitt left information out of the report and was given the chance to “correct his narrative with a supplemental report and willingly and knowingly left the information out of the report again.”

Proffitt, 35, of Effingham, has been charged with assault and battery and misconduct in office, according to the Florence County Sheriff’s Office.

During the investigation, Proffitt was on administrative leave until his employment with FCSO was terminated on Wednesday.

News13 learned Proffitt had been terminated from the Darlington Police Department in August 2009, just before he was hired by the FCSO in September 2009.

According to state records, Proffitt was terminated from the DPD for “violation of agency police not involving misconduct as defined by” state regulations.

The DPD would not rehire him because of “numerous write-ups, sleeping on duty,” according to the documents. News13 requested employment and training records for Proffitt from the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy.

A section of the documents asked if the Darlington Police Department would hire Proffitt again. A box labeled “No” had been checked.

According to the Florence County Detention Center website, Proffitt was booked Wednesday at 10:07 a.m. and released at 4:12 p.m. on a $5,000 bond. He’s charged with misconduct in office and assault and battery – second degree.

Proffitt, had faced a lawsuit in 2016 for assault and false imprisonment.

News13 obtained a copy of the lawsuit on Thursday that outlined the allegations a husband and wife made against Proffitt. The couple accused him of alleged assault, false imprisonment, false arrest, abuse of process and malicious prosecution.