Crime & Safety

Chapin Man Accused of Posing as Bodyguard for Gov. Nikki Haley

William Scott Fowler, 39, was arrested Friday and faces several charges including forgery and impersonating a police officer.

Newberry County deputies arrested a Chapin man they say impersonated a police officer after he represented himself as a personal bodyguard to Gov. Nikki Haley. 

William Scott Fowler, 39, was arrested Friday and charged with impersonating a police officer, according to a Newberry County Sheriff's Office news release. 

Fowler was also charged by the State Law Enforcement Division with soliciting business as a private investigator, forgery and filing a false affidavit with the Department of Motor Vehicles after it was determined he forged documents to obtain a Fraternal Order of Police license plate. 

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Fowler's bond has been set at $10,000. 

An investigation of Fowler began after authorities received a complaint that he was presenting himself as a SLED agent assigned to the Governor’s Security Task Force. 

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Investigators said Fowler had identified himself as a licensed private investigator and had presented several business cards to people in the community soliciting business as WSF Investigations. 

Investigators interviewed Fowler, who admitted to the allegations, according to the sheriff's office. 

State and federal authorities are still investigating and additional charges may be filed. 

This incident was not the first case of immpersonation, authorities said. 

Fowler was previously convicted in 1992 of forgery, of impersonating an officer and of credit card theft in 1995, as well as defrauding a federally insured institution in 1998.

He also had multiple fraudulent check convictions, authorities said. 

Anyone who had contact with Fowler during when he identified himself as a police officer or offered private investigator services, should contact the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office at 803-321-2222.


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