Local pair arrested for Animal Cruelty

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) charged Jasmine Tyese Williamson, 45, and Wayne Romano McDaniel, 48, with Animal Fighting or Baiting, Criminal Conspiracy, and Ill-Treatment of Animals on Thursday, August 29, 2024. The Darlington County Sheriff’s Office assisted SLED on Thursday. Williamson and McDaniel were booked into the Darlington County Detention Center. The case will be prosecuted by the 4th Circuit Solicitor’s Office. SLED’s investigation is active and ongoing. Williamson and McDaniel were charged following SLED’s discovery of dogs at a home in Darlington County. Two (2) of the dogs found were in incredibly poor condition and unfortunately had to be euthanized. Eight dogs and five puppies were relinquished and transported for veterinary care. The hope is for each dog to find a safe, loving home.“Dogfighting will not be tolerated in South Carolina,” said SLED Chief Mark Keel. “It is cruel and undermines the safety of our communities. Law-abiding citizens do not find amusement or profit in the ill-treatment of animals. SLED is committed to working together with our local, state, and federal partners to combat dogfighting.”At the request of SLED, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) is assisting with operational planning and removal, evidence collection, legal and investigative assistance, forensic exams, and medical and behavioral care for the 13 dogs removed from a property in Darlington county, S.C. The animals are being relocated to an emergency shelter operated by the ASPCA to receive medical and behavioral evaluations, care, and enrichment. The ASPCA has assisted nearly 6,000 victims of dogfighting from more than 300 cases and has trained more than 35,000 law enforcement officers and animal welfare professionals across the country to better identify and respond to animal cruelty situations, including dogfighting.“The ASPCA’s expertise and resources uniquely position us to work alongside our law enforcement partners nationwide to tackle dogfighting, bring justice to its victims, and provide rescued animals with specialized medical and behavioral treatment that ends their suffering and gives them the greatest chance of moving on to new, loving homes,” said Teresa Ladner, senior director of Investigations for the ASPCA.“Dogfighting is a brutal form of animal cruelty in which dogs are exploited and forced to fight one another for the entertainment and profit of spectators, and we are grateful to the South Carolina Law EnforcementDivision for pursuing this case, which gets us one step closer to eliminating dogfighting nationwide, once and for all.”

Recently, the pair (McDaniel and Williamson) were also arrested (along with others) after a 2-Year drug investigation.

To report dogfighting in South Carolina, email SLED at tips@sled.sc.gov.