For over 150 years, the Sumter Police Department has been serving the citizens of Sumter, South Carolina on the solid foundation of public trust and safety. Sumter PD officers serve a 40,000-strong town and are committed to treating all in our vibrant community fairly and with respect. We are a CALEA accredited agency and maintain their gold standard of serving and protecting our communities.
UPDATE (9:57 a.m. today): Givens was located and is safe.
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RUNAWAY: Officers and family members are working to find Tayon Givens, 16.
Givens walked off from his John Street home at about 12:15 this morning and has not returned. It is possible Givens may have gotten a ride after leaving.
He is 6 feet tall and weighs about 170 lbs. A clothing description was not available.
If you see him or know where he is, please call the Sumter Police Department at 803-436-2700. Always dial 911 in an emergency.
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UPDATE (9:57 a.m. today): Givens was located and is safe.
SOS - Missing Persons has shared this missing persons post in the hopes that it may help to find Tayon.
So happy to know he is safe . You are loved Young King.. ♥️🙏🏾
Praying for his safety & his return home🙏🏼
🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾praying he is found safe and returns home
Praying
Our team is actively sharing this alert across our platforms and with our network of dedicated volunteers to help spread the word as far and wide as possible.
Watch out for online scams during the holiday shopping season.
Here's some tips fromSC Department of Consumer Affairsfairs....
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.0 CommentsComment on Facebook
As the holiday season gets underway, please include on your shopping list a new toy for a local child.
The Sumter Police Department hopes to Cram-a-Cruiser full of new, unwrapped toys from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. each Saturday beginning Nov. 29 and ending Dec. 13 in front of Walmart on Broad Street.
Help us make sure no child in our community goes without. Held annually in partnership with the Salvation Army, toys collected will be distributed to Sumter families in time for Christmas morning.
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UPDATE (9:30 a.m. Nov. 16, 2025): Mr. Green was located. He is safe.
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RUNAWAY: Officers and family members are working to find Ashby Green Jr., 15.
Green walked off from his Poinsett Drive home at about 3 p.m. today without permission and has not returned.
He is 6 feet 2 inches tall, weighs about 150 lbs., and was wearing a hoodie, jeans and Nike slides, all black.
If you see him or know where he is, please call the Sumter Police Department at 803-436-2700. Always dial 911 in an emergency.
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UPDATE (9:30 a.m. Nov. 16, 2025): Mr. Green was located. He is safe.
He will return somehow they do not enough belts anymore may be the reason their pants won't stay up
Whatever you’re feeling right now fear, stress, confusion you don’t have to carry it by yourself. You’re not alone. Please reach out to someone you trust. You are important, you are needed, and you mean the world to the people who love you. Praying for his safety. We need more organization for youth in our area . This is so heartbreaking 💔
I pray he's found safe and unharmed in Jesus name Amen ❤️❤️🙏🏾 🙌🏾
Young man, please be safe and get in touch with your family ❤️
Praying for his safe return home🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Hope he comes back safe
Prayer wheels are turning for his safe and unharmed return! 🙏🙌
Excellent.
Ashby! Praying for your safe return. I know your family loves you so much. 🙏🙏🙏
Praise God.
Prayers to be located and Return home safe Expose his whereabouts and let your Angelic Angels help in Finding him in Jesus name amen 🙏
May God”s Grace and Mercy bring this child back to his family safe and sound.❤️❤️❤️
Praying for his safety.
Praying 🙏🏾 for a Safe Return 🙏🏾
You are loved and missed, please come home ❤
These kids always running away what's the problem 😔 don't know if something going on in the home or these kids head hard don't want to listen my goodness I pray his he's found safe
Lord have Mercy! Bring him back home safe and unharmed in Jesus Name Amen!
Praying for you Ashby 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
Let go of your burdens. They are not yours to hold. You are loved beyond measure. ❤️
My GOD is pray you bring him home safely back to his family no weapons formed against this young man shall prosper in JESUS precious name I pray Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen
Praying the this family, Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer 🙏💛
Praying 🙏
Prayers 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 Love you Ashby
Praying he is found safe and sound soon and returned home
Person in custody after attempting unauthorized entry at school
SUMTER, SC (Nov. 12, 2025) – Communication and collaboration between school officials, police and deputies led to the quick location of a person who attempted to enter Sumter High School without authorization.
School officials and police were made aware of an individual who was trying to enter the school just after 8:30 a.m. today. The individual then ran off after an administrator and officer made initial contact with him.
Officers of the Sumter Police Department and deputies from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office worked together to set up a search area for the male described in the encounter and used aerial and K-9 units to place him in custody a short time later on McCray’s Mill Road.
Sumter High and the Career Center were placed on lockout as a precaution during the search.
The juvenile, 17, remains in custody and the investigation is ongoing.
Sumter School District officials added the following:
"We appreciate the cooperation of our students, staff and law enforcement partners as we ensured the safety and security of everyone on campus," said Acting Superintendent Dr. Shirley Gamble.
-END-
Approved for media release by Chief Russell F. Roark, III
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So is this the same person that tried to enter Sumter High under a false name?
Impressed with all the updates today...keep up the good work.
Thank you for looking out for our children!
Kelli Romay
Brandon Cuttino
Bambi Shirah
Being a Police Officer in a CALEA Accredited Department means you belong to an agency that is committed to following best practice standards developed by federal, state, and local law enforcement executives through comprehensive research. This is one of the most successful methods for reaching administrative and operational goals, while also providing direction to personnel.
The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) was created in 1979 as a credentialing authority through the joint efforts of law enforcement’s major executive associations:
SPECIFICALLY, CALEA’S GOALS ARE TO:
