SC Solicitor Faces Another Alcohol-Related Charge

Eleventh Circuit Solicitor Donnie Myers is facing an open container charge after state troopers pulled him over last month in Lexington County, according to reports.

A South Carolina State Highway patrolman pulled Myers over around 10:10 p.m. on May 25 on Old Chapin Road, according to a report by WIS. In a highway patrol video obtained by WIS, the patrolman tells Myers he pulled him over because he was swerving and driving in the middle of the road on Old Cherokee Road.

Myers told the trooper he was listening to the Carolina game, and admitted to having a few drinks, according to the report. 

When the trooper told Myers to move to the back of the car, he spotted a cup inside the car, according to WIS. Myers admitted that there was an alcoholic drink in the cup, but changed his story about who left the cup in the car, the station reported. 

A trooper asked Myers to perform a field sobriety test, but Myers explained that he had back and shoulder surgeries that prevented him from doing so, according to WIS. The trooper performed a Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test instead, which required Myers to follow a pen with his eyes. In the video, Myers appears to pass the test, according to the report from WIS.

The patrolman charged Myers with open container, according to the report. He has a June 14 court date.

In May 2005, Myers was convicted of driving under the influence after North Carolina law enforcement officers pulled him over in his county-owned car near Interstate 240, according to the report. He served one year of probation.

When Patch tired to reach Myers Friday, a woman with his office said he wasn't in. She also said she wasn't sure when he would come in Friday. 

Myers is the solicitor for Lexington, Saluda, Edgefield and McCormick counties.