SC deputies defend operation that led to search of Shaw University bus, cite hundreds of other recent searches, arrests

A spokesman for Gov. Roy Cooper responded Tuesday afternoon. “The Governor shares the deep concern of Shaw University leaders about the treatment and safety of their students and has asked North Carolina Public Safety officials to discuss this matter with South Carolina law enforcement officials and express that concern,” Press Secretary Sam Chan told WRAL Investigates.

According to Shaw University leaders, 18 students were on a charter bus on Oct. 5 heading to a conference in Atlanta. The bus wasn’t labeled as carrying Shaw students. Spartanburg County, South Carolina, deputies pulled over the bus on Interstate 85, and deputies used dogs to sniff through luggage in the lower baggage compartment. Deputies cited the driver for improper lane usage.

"In a word, I am 'outraged,'" Dillard wrote in a statement. "This behavior of targeting Black students is unacceptable and will not be ignored nor tolerated.

"Had the students been White, I doubt this detention and search would have occurred."

Shaw University president says students racially profiled, searched during school trip in SC

The stop appeared to be part of an annual drug interdiction operation in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, where law enforcement officers made hundreds of stops and confiscated cash and pounds of drugs.

On Tuesday, WRAL Investigates reached out to Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone. He's not familiar with the operations in South Carolina, but has conducted drug interdiction for years along I-95.

“Without any conversation the dog can walk around in any free area and if that dog alerts to it, then it's probable cause to search the vehicle,” Stone said. “Are we going to open up the trunk and let the dog walk? Absolutely not, unless you have consent or probable cause.”

The optics of searching a bus full of Black students are drawing heavy criticism.

Spartanburg County authorities defended their weeklong operation, which turned out hundreds of traffic citations. It included 144 searches, with 65 searches using dogs.

Here’s the breakdown of the 803 people who received citations.

Spartanburg County deputies arrested 32 people during the operation.

On Oct. 5 alone, Spartanburg County deputies conducted 47 vehicle searches, 24 K-9 searches, 252 total traffic cases, 67 improper lane changes and 11 commercial motor vehicle inspections.

WRAL Investigates asked the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office about the stop. A spokesperson said they couldn't discuss what happened without the license plate number of the bus. WRAL Investigates is trying to get the information from Shaw University, so we can learn more about the circumstances of the stop.

Also, WRAL Investigates is working to learn more from Shaw University leadership and students.