Charleston County Police Department, South Carolina
End of Watch: Friday, March 12, 1976
Age:
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Vehicular assault
Date of Incident: March 12, 1976
Weapon Used: Automobile
Suspect Info: Released after 9 years
Detective William Messer was killed after being dragged to death underneath a vehicle. He and other detectives were making a traffic stop on a suspected drug dealer at the time. When Detective Messer ran to the passenger side of the vehicle the suspect sped away, dragging Detective Messer several hundred feet.
Detective Messer was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
The suspect turned himself in the next day and was sentenced to 27 years in prison. He was paroled after serving only nine years.
Detective Messer was survived by his wife and daughter.