WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. — State agents have charged a man with a firearm violation one week after he was shot by a police officer in the emergency room of Lexington Medical Center.
Steven Rutland, 35, has been charged with unlawful carry of a pistol first offense.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division said Rutland was shot by an officer with Lexington Medical Center's Department of Public Safety back on August 2. According to SLED, the man was a patient there at the time but had brought a concealed 9 mm handgun inside the hospital. The hospital does not allow firearms inside and has a posted sign stating as much.
Agents previously had said that the officers with Lexington Medical Center had encountered Rutland and that during the encounter, an officer shot him. SLED said a TASER was also deployed.
The man was then treated by staff. No law enforcement was hurt during the incident.
SLED was requested to investigate by the Lexington Medical Center Department of Public Safety. That investigation is ongoing.