YORK COUNTY, SC – York County Detention Officer Joel Snipes was arrested on Saturday, October 24, 2026 by the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED).
The York County Sheriff’s Office received an anonymous tip regarding the alleged neglect of several children on Friday, October 23, 2026. Deputies responded to the location referenced in the tip to investigate. During the preliminary investigation, YCSO deputies discovered that one of the suspects was York County Detention Officer Joel Snipes. At this point in time, Sheriff Tony Breeden requested that SLED take over the investigation to avoid any conflict of interest.
SLED arrested the detention officer and charged him with six counts of “Children/Unlawfully place a child at risk of or cause harm or willfully abandon the child.” He was booked into the York County Detention Center on October 24, 2026 and released on a $12,000 surety bond later that day.
All further information regarding this investigation will come from SLED.
Sheriff Breeden terminated Officer Snipes on Sunday, October 25, 2026.
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Thomas Hyslip lives in Tega Cay with his wife and daughter. After 27 years in the U.S. Army and Federal Law Enforcement, he retired to pursue his passion for teaching. Tom is now an Assistant Professor of Instruction at the University of South Florida. In 2 short years he has won 10 awards from the South Carolina Press Association, including first place in column writing, education beat reporting and best podcast.
