WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | Four arrested for threatening man with poisonous snake

Four arrested for threatening man with poisonous snake

SUMTER, SC (WIS) - Threatened with a poisonous snake. That's what police say happened during an argument in Sumter.
    
Now, the snake is missing and four people are under arrest.       

The cotton mouth water moccasin is one of South Carolina's most deadly and aggressive snakes.

"It's a very poisonous snake. Probably the most venomous snake that's out there," said Sumter Police Chief Patty Patterson.

It's hard to believe that police say four men used that type of snake as a weapon to kill someone.

"I was surprised by what had transpired," said Chief Patterson.

Police say the assault happened in the parking lot of Shuckers Grill and Bar in Sumter. They say the four men surrounded the victim and threatened him with the snake. Investigators say one of the men was bitten, but the victim went unharmed. The four men were later arrested.

Timothy Farmer, the man that was bitten, was treated at the hospital and released. He and two other men are being charged with second-degree lynching.

But 27-year old Ross Farmer is being charged with assault with intent to kill, because he was the one that actually threatened the man.
        
All are currently out on bond.
    
As for the snake, police believe one of the men disposed of it before they arrived on the scene.
    
For Chief Patterson, that's a good thing.

"I'd rather not be in the same room or same vacinity with one quite frankly," said Chief Patterson.

Patterson says this is the first time in her almost 30 years as a police officer that she's ever worked on a case like this, and she hopes it's her last.

Reported by Trey Paul

Posted by Logan Smith