Former York County SC Sheriff Tolson accused of crashing vehicle, leaving scene
Former York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson has been arrested by South Carolina troopers on allegations of leaving the scene of a crash, according to an arrest warrant and sheriff officials.
Tolson, 55, of York, was charged Monday after he turned himself in, according to a York County Sheriff’s office statement and spokesman Trent Faris.
Tolson’s vehicle hit a pole and fence off Airport Road in Rock Hill Sunday before he left the scene and failed to notify law enforcement, according to a warrant obtained by The Herald. A state police investigation identified Tolson as the driver, the warrant states.
He is charged with failure to report after striking fixtures on or adjacent to a highway, according to the warrant.
He was in the York County jail from around 11 a.m. until he was released on a personal recognizance bond after an initial court hearing, sheriff officials said.
The sheriff’s office runs the county jail.
Cpl. Nick Pye of the S.C. Highway Patrol confirmed to The Herald Monday afternoon the investigation into the incident is continuing.
York’s top prosecutor asks SC AG to handle case
Toslon worked as an investigator at the 16th Circuit Solicitor’s Office — which handles prosecution of criminal cases in York County — for years during his law enforcement career.
Kevin Brackett, York County’s top prosecutor, told The Herald Monday he immediately contacted the S.C. Attorney General’s Office Monday and advised them of the potential conflict for his office to handle prosecuting the case. Brackett requested the attorney general or another county prosecutor’s office take the case over, and the request was granted.
“We want the public to be sure they can be confident in the system and that it is being handled appropriately,” Brackett said.
It remains unclear which agency will handle the case moving forward.
Two-term sheriff decided not to run again
Tolson, a Republican,was sheriff for two terms. He was elected in 2016 and again in 2020.
In April 2024, after filing for re-election days earlier, Tolson withdrew from the race on the last day of filing and his wife filed for the office the same day.
York County Republicans re-opened the nominating process and five candidates sought the seat in the June 2024 primary. Tony Breeden won the primary in a runoff and won the sheriff’s election unopposed in November.
Check back for updates on this story.
This story was originally published July 14, 2025 at 2:55 PM.
