‘It’s a mandate’: York, Chester, Lancaster police will enforce ‘home or work’ order.
Police agencies in York, Chester and Lancaster counties are expected to enforce South Carolina’s stay-at-home coronavirus emergency restrictions, but top officers said they hope the public doesn’t give law enforcement a reason to make arrests.
The executive order during the statewide state of emergency makes violation of the stay at home order a misdemeanor with a $100 fine and up to 30 days in jail for a conviction.
S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster made the stay-at-home rules effective at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
The York County Sheriff’s Office will not have roadblocks, traffic checkpoints, or other mass enforcement measures, said Sheriff Kevin Tolson. However, deputies will respond to all calls of rule violations and handle each call with the discretion the law entails, Tolson said.
“If pockets of the public flagrantly disregard the governor’s order, our deputies will take any and all appropriate action,” Tolson said. “If there has ever been a time for the public to heed stay at home, it is now.”
Tolson has been an advocate for weeks for people to stay home if possible during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under McMaster’s mandatory order, South Carolinians are allowed to go work, visit family and buy necessary goods or services. The order, which McMaster referred to as a “home or work” order, allows people to exercise outdoors or go for a walk.
“Too many people are on the roads,” McMaster said at a press conference Monday. “Too many people are on the waters. Too many people are in the stores.”
McMaster also said Monday he would not stop churchgoers from attending Easter worship this Sunday. But the governor encouraged churches to stream services online, hold services outdoors or at least, ensure people social distance.
“We’ve asked,” McMaster said. “We’ve urged. We’ve suggested...But the last week or so has shown that it’s not enough. The rate of infection is on the rise and the rate of noncompliance is on the rise.”
There have been two coronavirus-related deaths in York County, according to health officials. Tolson said medical professionals have made it clear the stay-at-home order is the best way to stem the spread of the disease and stop more fatalities.
“No one should believe right now that it is safe or proper to leave home unnecessarily,” Tolson said.
Police hope there is no reason to write citations.
The power to enforce order falls under the same law as when the governor instituted the state of emergency that banned gatherings of more than three people in March, according to law enforcement officials.
Last week, sheriff’s deputies charged two people with felony looting under the emergency law. But no citations for violations of McMaster’s ban on gatherings have been issued in York, Chester or Lancaster counties, police and court officials said.
Police will enforce it with discretion that the law allows, officials said.
“We are not going to have traffic checkpoints to enforce this stay at home order,” said Lt. Michael Chavis of the Rock Hill Police Department. “But we are going to continue to respond to calls where there is suspicion that someone is violating the order. If we see a violation, or we get called about a violation, we will investigate.”
York Police Department Capt. Brian Trail said officers will continue to educate the public on a first time basis for violations, then give out warnings and take more severe action if police directives are not followed.
“We want the public to be safe,” Trail said. “That’s what this stay-at-home order is about.”
Under the order, the governor also limited store capacity to five people per 1,000 square feet — or 20% of posted capacity. Trail said his officers will continue to work with store security at the Walmart in York to enforce the customer limitations.
Fort Mill Police Department Maj. Bryan Zachary said the department’s officers will continue to respond to calls about violations of the ban on gatherings and will handle with discretion any calls about violations of the stay-at-home order.
Chester County Sheriff Max Dorsey said the severity of the pandemic has made the stay-at-home order a way for all people to help mitigate spread of the virus.
“We will continue to educate and inform as we handle these kind of calls,” Dorsey said. “We will remain out in the community, building relationships, and reminding people that this order is for their safety, and the safety of their families and neighbors.”
Lancaster Police Department Chief Scott Grant said he understands these restrictions are new to the public, but the rules are in place to protect people. Lancaster city police have stopped a couple of gatherings with warnings but no arrests, Grant said.
“We want to educate people first,” Grant said. “But this stay-at-home order is not voluntary any more. It’s a mandate. We ask people to do the right thing. If they won’t we will do what we have to do.”
As of Tuesday afternoon, York County has 95 reported cases of the coronavirus. Chester County has 14 cases and Lancaster County has 43, according to health officials.
This story was originally published April 7, 2020 at 3:14 PM.
