FLORENCE, SC (WBTW) – The man shot by a state constable in Florence last month was arrested and booked into jail for 17 minutes, according to online jail records.
Brandon Dominique Fludd was booked into the Florence County Detention Center Tuesday at 1:21 p.m. on charges of failure to stop for blue lights, malicious injury to property less than $1,000, and driving on the wrong side of the road. Fludd was released from jail at 1:38 p.m. on a $2,500 personal recognizance bond.
A Florence police officer said he stopped Fludd on the night of March 24 because Fludd’s car crossed the center line of the road. Constable Christopher Bachochin was riding with the police officer. Another police unit also responded to the traffic stop.
Body cam and dash cam video from different angles of the traffic stop show what happened after Fludd stopped his vehicle.
The officer repeatedly asked Fludd to get out of his car. Fludd can be seen using his phone momentarily and then puts his car in reverse and hits a police cruiser. The constable then pulls his gun and fires eight shots, according to 12th circuit solicitor Ed Clements. Fludd drove off after being shot.
He ended up in the hospital with three gunshot wounds, according to his attorney Robert Stucks.
Attorneys for Fludd, Justin Bamberg and Robert Stucks, released the following statement following Fludd’s arrest.
“We will vigorously defend Brandon Fludd from the charges he is facing in connection with the incident in which he was shot at eight times by a pharmacist volunteering as a constable.
At least Mr. Fludd acknowledged his role in the incident. We are still waiting to hear why a pharmacist on patrol with officers from the Florence Police Department decided to fire his weapon eight times when the other highly trained officers did not fire a single shot. More importantly, we await a determination on whether he will face charges for his actions that evening.
The constable program needs to be further scrutinized. Arming ordinary citizens and putting them in real-life situations for which they are not trained is a danger to everyone in the community. Proper oversight is a must, especially when those citizens believe they have the authority to kill another human being.
We will continue our own investigation into this incident and will ensure that Mr. Fludd’s rights are protected.”
“Next time someone tells you to get out of the car, they tell you directly, listen to them because it could’ve end worse,” Fludd told ABC News.
In the video, the police officer asked the constable whether he was okay after the shooting, he replied, “[Expletive] almost ran me over.”
No one has been charged for the shooting. Twelfth Circuit Solicitor Ed Clements told News13 he handed the case over to the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office.
Florence Mayor Stephen Wukela said the video spoke for itself. “The whole incident is troubling. We have confidence that the SLED will investigate this matter and treat it fully and fairly.” Wukela didn’t indicate why he thought the shooting was troubling.
Lt. Mike Brandt says Fludd turned himself into police Tuesday and was released on bond. He adds no other information is available at this time.