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Church vandalized, graves desecrated at another

WALHALLA - Authorities in South Carolina's westernmost county are searching for those responsible for vandalizing one church and desecrating graves at another.

WYFF-TV reports the Oconee County Sheriff's Office is asking for help from the public to find whoever wrote satanic graffiti and emblems on Hepsibah Baptist Church on June 2 and moved more than 20 headstones in the graveyard at Friendship United Methodist church on June 11.

The sheriff's office says there is a cash reward for a tip leading to an arrest or arrests in the cases.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC (888-724-6372).

Trooper struck by hit-and-run driver at checkpoint

ORANGEBURG - Authorities are looking for a driver who struck a South Carolina trooper while fleeing from a traffic checkpoint in Orangeburg County.

The Highway Patrol said Trooper M.R. Burgess was hit around 11 p.m. Monday on a road near Orangeburg.

Authorities say he was treated and released from the hospital but is still recovering from his injuries.

Highway Patrol Lance Cpl. Matt Southern said Burgess was hit by what appears to be a 2016 Honda Accord and released pictures of the car and driver on Twitter.

Orangeburg deputies are helping troopers investigate the incident.

K-9 handler suspended for excessive force returns to duty

GREENVILLE - A K-9 handler suspended for using excessive force on a suspect is back on duty in South Carolina.

WCBD-TV says Deputy Kenneth Sandefur was suspended from the K-9 division for 40 hours but returned Wednesday.

News outlets report Greenville officials released body cam video Wednesday showing 47-year-old Kevin Leroy Scott White being bitten by a K-9 on his head during his arrest in April.

Police pulled White over in April for driving with improper tags, but he fled. They tracked him down the next day in Greenville, but he escaped on a moped. The police dog later found him hiding inside a dishwasher underneath a mobile home porch.

After he was bitten, police took him to a hospital. He was released to a detention center the next day.

From the Associated Press