FLORENCE-Below you will find a statement from Chief Holt regarding the incident involving David Culliver.
“I understand the community’s concerns about the use of a police canine in the arrest of Mr. Culliver. However, I want to be clear that the use of the canine under these circumstances falls within our department’s use-of-force policy as well as state and federal laws. The canine was deployed to prevent the further escalation of required force.
Mr. Culliver was intoxicated, behaving erratically, and made verbal threats toward officers. When officers attempted to arrest him, he resisted physically, and multiple officers were unable to gain control of him. Despite having one hand secured in a handcuff, he continued to actively resist and fight, demonstrating that he still posed an immediate threat and was not under control. There was also concern that he might regain access to his vehicle, creating a significant safety risk.
The use of the canine allowed officers to safely gain control of Mr. Culliver and take him into custody without further incident. Based on the totality of the circumstances, the level of force used was necessary to ensure the safety of everyone involved. I think it’s important to remember that Mr. Culliver had the option not to resist; which would have prevented the need to use force.”
At this time, this statement from Chief Holt combined with the initial news release contains all available information regarding this incident. We will not be providing further updates.
Media Release/Joshua Meza/Public Information Officer
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I appreciate the excellent effort the Florence Police department takes to ensure our safety and theirs. Thank you to all