S.C. Chief in Hot Water Over Facebook Post

Chief Ruben Santiago responded to a comment on a news release posted Thursday night regarding the arrest of a suspect on a marijuana possession charge.

Chief Ruben Santiago with the Columbia PD's mobile command vehicle. (Photo from Facebook)Chief Ruben Santiago with the Columbia PD's mobile command vehicle. (Photo from Facebook)

Columbia's interim police chief is under scrutiny after some construed his response to a comment on the department's Facebook page as a threat, the State newspaper reports.

Chief Ruben Santiago responded to a comment on a news release posted Thursday night regarding the arrest of a suspect on a marijuana possession charge.

The person commenting said the department should focus less on busting people for pot and more on patrolling Five Points, where a University of South Carolina student was shot and wounded more than two weeks ago.

Santiago thanked the person for comments that might make police believe he's a criminal and wrote, "We will work on finding you."

On Friday, Santiago told The State of Columbia that he wasn't threatening anyone and learned a hard lesson about posting comments on social media. He also said he sent an apology to the person who made the comment.

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