Troopers: EMS worker removed pot from accident scene

EDITOR'S NOTE: Earlier versions of this story had an inaccurate headline.

MONCKS CORNER -- A paramedic who allegedly took marijuana from a felony DUI suspect at a crash scene and tried to hide it from law enforcement was charged Friday with obstruction of justice.

Chelsea Arrowood, 27, of Summerville, a paramedic for Berkeley County EMS, was arrested by the S.C. Highway Patrol, Cpl. Bob Beres said.

Arrowood reportedly surrendered to investigators Friday afternoon at the Hill Finklea Detention Center, and was expected to face a bail judge later in the evening.

At the Broughton Road scene of a fatal head-on collision late on Nov. 10, a witness maintained that a paramedic took a small package of pot from the pants of Shana Robinson, 33, of Moncks Corner, Patrol Capt. Chris Williamson said. He said investigators later recovered the pot, the exact amount of which he didn’t know.

Robinson remains hospitalized but is charged with felony DUI regarding the accident that took the life of Candy Zoll, 47, of Moncks Corner. Zoll died in a hospital emergency room from blunt force trauma injuries sustained in the crash., authorities said.

The patrol said Robinson’s 2005 BMW crossed the center line and struck Zoll’s 2000 Saturn head-on. Robinson and a passenger in her car, 23-year-old Brittany Hartley of Moncks Corner, were both injured.

Williamson said Robinson now faces an addition charge of simple possession of marijuana in connection with the incident at the accident scene.

The obstruction of justice charge is a misdemeanor but carries a sentence of up to 10 years, Williamson said.

EMS Director Bob Mixter said earlier that Arrowood is on paid vacation that was already scheduled. Attempts to reach Mixter Friday were unsuccessful.