HICKS COLUMN: A problem much worse than a slap

As it turns out, getting smacked by the sheriff was the least of Timothy Shawn McManus' problems on Monday.

Earlier this week, Charleston County Sheriff Al Cannon admitted he slapped a handcuffed McManus at the end of a 120 mph chase through Mount Pleasant and the Francis Marion National Forest.

Now what Cannon did was wrong, no question there. But a lot of people don't blame him, understandably.

After all, McManus was driving despite the fact that his license had been suspended multiple times, he drove up on curbs and sidewalks, endangering others, and, well, he ran from the law. Never a good idea.

And when Cannon asked him what was wrong with him, McManus allegedly said "Ain't nothin wrong with me man."

Sorry, wrong answer.

Actually, McManus had several maladies at that moment. A Sheriff's Office video released Thursday shows deputies punching him repeatedly as they pulled him from his truck. And then they let the police dog bite him. And then Cannon slapped him.

As much as people were likely willing to forgive Cannon for his outburst (or even applaud it), the rest of this is not going to go away so easily.

Higher standard

On Thursday, Cannon said that he reported himself to SLED in part to send a message to his troops.

"Police are human like anyone, but I don't accept that from my folks and I don't accept that from myself," the sheriff said.

It is admirable that Cannon would turn himself over to higher authorities and face his punishment like a man. If that was all there was to this, public opinion likely would demand that SLED let this go. But not now. Even the dog may end up on desk duty.

Cannon wouldn't speculate on what he might do to his deputies if they were facing similar charges, probably because he knew that several of them might soon face similar, or worse, charges.

All of that reiterates the fact that Cannon made the right move. He couldn't punish them if he had let himself off for taking a shot at McManus. Let's just hope those deputies accept their fate as willingly as Cannon.

Because we can't let this slide.

Even fools have rights

Police chases are high-adrenaline things; they get people amped up.

But that's no excuse to beat on a guy. Even though Cannon said earlier this week they would have been justified shooting McManus because he was a danger to others.

Now, McManus is no choirboy. This is his third offense for driving with a suspended license, and he has a list of traffic violations as long as your arm. And he ran from police, not to mention he sped through Mount Pleasant's construction zone (they could file separate charges later).

As much as it may annoy some people, everyone has rights. We can't just allow police to beat on anyone, even a knucklehead like McManus.

Who is now a knucklehead with a potential lawsuit.

All of a sudden we've got bigger problems than a little slap.

Follow Brian Hicks on Twitter at @BriHicks_PandC.