Lake Wylie park superintendent stole 60K over years, SC sheriff says
York County deputies arrested the superintendent of a Lake Wylie area park Thursday morning on allegations he stole more than $60,000 over the several years the park has been open, according to the sheriff and court records.
Jason Cameron Ratterree, 48, of Rock Hill, was in charge of cash people paid to Field Day Park for a variety of uses, but instead used it for “vacations, home improvement purchases, and private school tuition,” according to an arrest warrant.
Ratterree turned himself in on Thursday after a monthslong investigation on a charge of embezzling public funds, according to a statement from York County Sheriff Tony Breeden.
Ratterree never deposited the cash into a county bank account, Breeden said.
The investigation remains ongoing. “Anyone who has paid cash to Field Day Park for field rentals, community center or pavilion rentals, sponsorships, pickleball classes, or as a food truck vendor during that timeframe is asked to come forward,” Breeden said.
County: Ratterree suspended without pay
York County suspended Ratterree from his job without pay according to county employee policy, according to a written statement sent to The Herald from county spokesman Greg Suskin.
The park is staffed and remains operational, Suskin said.
“York County is aware that the Field Day park superintendent was arrested today in connection with an ongoing law enforcement investigation,” the county statement said. “The conduct under investigation does not reflect the standards or values of individuals serving our community, and we will continue to fully cooperate with law enforcement.”
The county government had no further comment, the statement said.
The sheriff said in his own statement that detectives started investigating theft in March.
The investigation included false invoices, according to the warrant.
The county-owned park opened in October 2020 — the same time the warrant says the theft started. It is located near S.C. 274 and S.C. 55 between Lake Wylie and Clover.
Ratterree was booked into the York County jail after his arrest and is awaiting a court hearing.
