Florence resident urges accountability after son’s April traffic stop; SLED investigation pending

Lanika “Shelly” Williams, a community advocate and CEO of For the People Advocacy Group, told the Florence City Council that she is “completely outraged” after an April 26 traffic stop in which she says her 26‑year‑old son was dragged and slammed by officers and that officers gave the family “countless lies.” Williams said the encounter escalated when a sergeant called for backup and that she and others at the scene were not advised of the reason for the arrest.

In public comments, Williams said her son, who she described as having no prior trouble with the law, was stopped for a traffic violation in their suburban neighborhood and that the stop followed what she said was an earlier instance in which the same officer had followed him home weeks earlier. Williams said the supervising officer handled the matter poorly and that representations by police about city policy — specifically that a motorist with a suspended license in the system must be arrested — were incorrect.

“Where’s the accountability?” Williams asked the council near the end of her remarks. She told the council she has pursued internal channels and met with the mayor, the police chief and a captain; she said the family has received harassment since filing a complaint and that she had to bring in a third‑party officer to clarify what happened at the scene.

Mayor Barnes and other council members said the incident is under investigation and that the city referred the matter to the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED). On the record, council members and the city manager stated they could not provide details while SLED’s inquiry is active. A council member noted that when a complaint is under formal review, the city’s ability to investigate internally is limited, which is why SLED was engaged.

Why it matters: Williams’ comments raise concerns about police conduct, supervisory oversight and the city’s investigative timeline. Her account also includes broader claims about racial disparities in traffic stops and arrests, which she said reflect local patterns. City officials acknowledged the complaint and asked that SLED’s process be allowed to run its course.

What the record shows

- Williams said the stop occurred April 26 and that her son was 26 years old at the time of the incident. - She reported an increase in traffic stops and arrests in April that she said disproportionately affected Black and Hispanic residents; she cited aggregate comparisons (Florence Police compared with Florence County, Lake City and the highway patrol) in the meeting but did not provide underlying data on the record. - Williams said she was told by city officers that a local policy required arrest when a driver’s license shows as suspended in the system; she later reported that in a meeting with the mayor, the chief and a captain staff admitted there is no written policy requiring automatic arrest in those circumstances.

What the city said

- The mayor’s office and city staff confirmed SLED has been asked to investigate and said they cannot comment further while that probe is active. The mayor and city manager told Williams the administration would allow the external investigation to proceed.

Next steps and outstanding requests

- Williams asked the council what remedies the legislative body can provide while the investigation proceeds, including what city council can do to ensure accountability and to protect her family. Council members reiterated that SLED’s external review must be completed before the city can act on disciplinary or policy outcomes.

Speakers (from transcript)

- Lanika Williams — community advocate; CEO, For the People Advocacy Group; National Director of Operations, Racial Justice Network (public commenter) - Mayor Barnes — Mayor, City of Florence (response from the dais) - City Manager Scottie Davis — City Manager, City of Florence (administrative response)

Clarifying details

- Incident date: April 26, 2025 (reported by speaker). If a precise arrest report date differs in records, that is not specified on the meeting record. - Investigation status: Referred to SLED; city declined further comment pending SLED outcome.

Proper names

- For the People Advocacy Group (organization referenced by the commenter) - State Law Enforcement Division (SLED)

Community relevance

- Geographies: City of Florence - Impact groups: residents who interact with law enforcement, racial‑justice stakeholders, families in the affected neighborhood

Meeting context

- Engagement level: public comment allotment (5‑minute limit) used by Williams; the topic prompted follow‑up questions and administrative clarification; the council did not take action during the meeting because of the ongoing SLED investigation. - Implementation risk: low (city awaiting external findings before administrative action).