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.
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
6 CommentsComment on Facebook
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
An update is now posted on this page.
------------
POLICE ACTIVITY: Officers are responding to suspicious person call in the McCray’s Mill Road area. Sumter High School and the Career Center were placed on lock out as a precaution.
A person is now in custody and the lock out lifted.
26 CommentsComment on Facebook
An update to this is now posted on our FB page.
Was he driving a Charger
Travis Kinley was it your drone business?
Husband drove by in the middle. The person was eluding and then jumped out near the front of Sumter High and ran towards the woods. The police jumped out and did apprehend the person. Wild morning.
Just got an automated phone call from the high school saying that a person tried to get into the school under a false name so that's probably what it was about after they left the building Maybe
Being suspicious isn’t a crime. What crime are they accused of?
Those woods was just a small tree line to our neighborhood!
Thank GOD no one got hurt.
Good job
Too close ti hime. Glad you got them.
Lord I pray everyday for my grands in school .
Be safe than sorry .
Wow I wonder who that was
Lanette Brailsford
Amy Elizabeth Stewart
Brady Cockerill
Robbie Casselman
Jodi Durant
Amy Elizabeth Stewart
Angel Play Andrea
Robyn-Brandon Grimsley
Amy Elizabeth Stewart
This all is so misleading cause the call I just received from the district operator stated a student showed up giving false information of a name and wouldn’t comply on their real identification!!!
Cynthia Horace
What the fuck
5 CommentsComment on Facebook
Happy Veterans Day
Happy 😊 Veterans Day
Happy Veterans Day Thank you
THANK You VETERANS To ALL The Veterans who sacrificed,Served, Supported, Protection, and Saved Many People's Lives and E Else You Done For US and Especially Thank You Very Much To ALL The Amazing Men and Women Who are Still Serving and Hope You Make It Home For The Holidays With Your Families and Friends TOO ❤️🙏, GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND AMEN TOO ❤️🙏
UPDATE (7:40 a.m. Nov. 11, 2025): McFadden returned home and is safe.
————
RUNAWAY: Officers are working to find Travis McFadden, 14.
McFadden, of Sandy Run Drive, was last seen at about 4 p.m. Monday on Boulevard Road when he left to be with friends but has not returned home.
He is described as 5 feet 3 inches tall, weighs about 100 lbs. and was wearing a blue and white sweater, light colored jeans and multi colored Nike shoes.
If you see him or know where he is, please call the Sumter Police Department at 803-436-2700. Dial 911 in an emergency.
53 CommentsComment on Facebook
UPDATE (7:40 a.m. Nov. 11, 2025): McFadden returned home and is safe.
What was he running from?
Prayers for his safety and the family, hope he gets home soon! 😊
Praying for his safety 🙏
🙏🙏🙏praying
Every day, another child goes missing and it’s absolutely heartbreaking 💔 Our youth deserve protection, guidance, and love. We have to do better as a community. 🙏🏽✨
Prayers
Praying for a Safe Return
Praying for his safety 🙏
Praying for his safe return
Praying for his safety 🙏🏾
Praying for his safety
🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾praying he returns home safely!
Praying for his safe return
Thank God he returned home safe 😇❤️🙏🏾🙏🏾
SOS - Missing Persons has shared this missing persons post in the hopes that it may help to find Travis.
Praying for his safe return
Praying he returns safe
🙏🏼 safe return home
🙏🏽🙏🏽 for safe return home
Praying for a safe return. But do you have a clear picture of this child.
Praying for a safe return 🙏
Prayers
Praying for his safety 🙏
@Alice Pegram Praying For The Safe Return Of Anyone Missing In Jesus Name! Amen
VETERANS DAY PARADE: Traffic/parking restrictions and road closures for the Veterans Day Parade will begin in the downtown area at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday with no traffic allowed along the parade route by 9:30 a.m.
The parade is scheduled to begin 10 a.m. at the Main and Bartlette streets intersection and ending with a ceremony at 11 a.m. on the front lawn of the Sumter County Courthouse on Main Street.
Affected roads include Harvin, Bartlette, South Main, South Sumter, Main, Liberty and Calhoun streets.
Normal traffic flow is expected to resume by noon.
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
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:
