Bond denied for woman accused of shooting into cop’s car in Barnwell County

BARNWELL, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - A newly released incident report is shedding light on the alleged drug activity that investigators say led to a woman accused of opening fire on a Midlands police chief.

A judge in Blackville denied bond for 37-year-old Lacey Cushman on Tuesday. Cushman faces multiple charges, including attempted murder, failure to stop for a blue light and assault of a high and aggravated nature.

She appeared virtually for her hearing.

Officials said Springfield Police Chief Adam Evans was injured in the incident, which happened on Gardenia Road in Barnwell County. Springfield, a town of less than 500 people, is located in Orangeburg County

Evans was at home and off duty when the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office called him in to assist with a shots-fired call involving Cushman.

According to the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office, law enforcement was called after a woman reported that someone shot her vehicle following an argument in the 100 block of Sycamore Circle in Springfield.

Investigators said the woman had contacted law enforcement after she allegedly saw drug activity at a home in the neighborhood, which prompted Cushman to leave the residence.

As the woman approached the area, she saw Cushman in her vehicle. According to the sheriff’s office report, Cushman confronted her about calling the police, and the two began arguing.

The woman told deputies that Cushman fired at her car several times before fleeing. Investigators later found multiple bullet holes on the rear passenger side of the vehicle. The car’s rear tire was also flat.

The officials say the Springfield Police Department was closer, so they were asked to respond.

Springfield Mayor Trent Still said Evans got to the scene of the incident before Orangeburg County deputies, but later found Cushman at a place she frequently visits. A chase then ensued, with Evans getting close enough to identify Cushman’s license plate.

That’s when authorities said Cushman opened fire, hitting Evans close to his ribs. A large bullet hole was also seen in the passenger-side window of Evans’ patrol vehicle.

A South Carolina Blue Alert was issued for Cushman.

Cushman was found in Orangeburg County and taken into custody, and the Blue Alert was canceled. SLED said Cushman was taken into custody at 11:56 p.m. Monday.

She’s being held at the Barnwell County Detention Center. We’ve requested her mugshot from the dention center.

SLED was requested to investigate the incident by the Barnwell County Sheriff’s Office. SLED’s investigation is active and ongoing at this time.

SLED said the incident is not considered an officer-involved shooting. The agency gave this as the definition of an officer-involved shooting:

“The shooting of an individual by a law enforcement officer acting in the line of duty, the discharge of a weapon at or during an encounter with an individual by a law enforcement officer acting in the line of duty, or any other similar law enforcement shooting event.”

City officials told News 12 the officer was home and stable as of Tuesday morning.

Evans was brought on by Still to serve as chief after the latter was elected mayor last November. Evans is the town’s only police officer.

Still said he has asked the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division for help with patrolling while Evans is still recovering.

This wasn’t the only South Carolina gun incident involving an officer Monday.

In Anderson County, a suspect was killed after shooting a deputy during a traffic stop on I-85 on Monday.