http://www.greenvilleonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080620/NEWS01/80620037/1004/NEWS01

A Greenville County Sheriff's deputy was arrested this morning on assault charges and fired from his job after his boss says the deputy used excessive force by repeatedly punching a teenager during a drug arrest last month.

Meanwhile, the teen's mother told The Greenville News that she's happy the deputy was arrested and charged but that other deputies involved in her son's arrest should be charged, as well.

Brian Douglas Tollison, 40, who had worked for the Sheriff's Office for seven years and last year won a state medal of valor for a rescue during an apartment fire, is charged with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature in the May 15 incident, according to an arrest warrant.

Tollison is accused of punching 18-year-old Jeremy Laquan Rucker in the face 13 times after "the situation was pretty much under control," Sheriff Steve Loftis said today.

Loftis said that a review of Tollison's conduct began last month after the teen's mother complained the day after her son's arrest and after deputies who responded to the scene reported the incident to a supervisor. Other deputies who arrived to subdue Rucker with "a taser and strikes to Rucker's side" were "determined to be in compliance with sheriff's office policy," Loftis said.

Rucker's mother, Myra Rucker, said today that seven deputies were involved in beating her son -- who she said was 17 at the time and weighed only 137 pounds -- and should be punished.

The mother said, "I couldn't even look at my child" because of her son's injuries when she went to see him at the jail two days after his arrest. She said she's looking for an attorney so that she can pursue legal action.

Jeremy Rucker is still being housed in the Greenville County Detention Center on charges of possession of crack and marijuana, loitering to engage drug activity and resisting arrest, detention records show. Rucker was taken to a hospital after his arrest and declined treatment, Loftis said.

On May 15, Tollison was observing an area in the Judson community where people were suspected of engaging in prostitution and illegal drug activity, Loftis said.

According to an incident report that Tollison wrote about the night of Rucker's arrest, Tollison saw two known prostitutes dropped off at a nearby home after a man picked the pair up at Sip-Its bar.

Tollison saw two "suspicious males" in a truck pull into a driveway and tried to make contact with the driver, who then ran away, Loftis said. Tollison approached the passenger in the truck, Rucker, and Rucker tried to get away but was stopped by Tollison, Loftis said.

Tollison smelled marijuana, told Rucker he was under arrest and Rucker began to struggle with him, Loftis said. Tollison called for back up, Loftis said, and as he and another deputy were taking Rucker into custody, Tollison began punching Rucker "in the face with a closed fist."

"Rucker was struck by Tollison 13 times during this time," Loftis said.

More deputies arrived and "utilized a taser and strikes to Rucker's side in order to have him comply with deputies' commands to allow him to be handcuffed," Loftis said. "The use of force by these deputies was reviewed and determined to be in compliance with sheriff's office policy. Tollison's use of force against Rucker has been determined to be excessive and does not comply with sheriff's office policy."

Tollison was arraigned this morning and released on $25,000 bond.

Tollison offered no explanation for his actions, except to say that Rucker had reached for the deputy's gun earlier in the arrest, Loftis said.

Loftis said that Tollison had been a model deputy with "an outstanding record" before the May 15 incident. Last year, Tollison was award the S.C. Medal of Valor for a rescue effort during an apartment fire on Wade Hampton Boulevard.

You F'ed up, bad, you're fired.

Not only did his peers come down on him, so did the boss man. The law enforcement community as a whole could learn something from the accountability here.

... Loftis said that Tollison had been a model deputy with "an outstanding record" before the May 15 incident. Last year, Tollison was award the S.C. Medal of Valor for a rescue effort during an apartment fire on Wade Hampton Boulevard.