State investigators have arrested a former Beaufort County Sheriff’s deputy in connection with a confrontation with several teenagers caught on video last month.
The video showed the boys being held at gunpoint on Hilton Head Island by then deputy Billy Squires who threatened to shoot the teens in his own neighborhood. SLED charged Squires Tuesday with several counts of pointing a firearm.
Authorities have also arrested and charged Squires’ neighbor, Brian Stahleber, with falsely telling the deputy the teenagers had a gun.
They say Squires was off duty at home and under the influence of alcohol when he changed into his police vest and grabbed his service weapon before approaching the juveniles with his gun drawn. Authorities point out, the juveniles did not have a weapon and did not pose a threat.
“Looking at that video, it was appalling,” said Beaufort County Sheriff P.J. Tanner shortly after firing Squires.
“I can see how the average citizen sees the video and just goes into shock.”
The nearly 90 second video shared on social media shows Squires demanding that a group of boys “get on the ground” with his weapon pointed at the teens. In addition to the sheriff’s office vest, Squires is dressed in shorts and slippers.
There’s a scuffle for a bookbag which the deputy takes. The boys shout to bystanders to call police. Squires responds, “I am the police.”
One of the boys is seen being kicked by Squires and dragged to the ground by the sleeve of his shirt, while another boy lunges at the deputy to fight back.
The video ends with one boy repeatedly screaming for his mom.
