Man drowns fleeing cops who were looking for someone else

A South Carolina man drowned while fleeing law enforcement — who were looking for someone else.

Greenville County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) said deputies were serving a warrant in Greer Sunday afternoon when Chuck Gilbert Shelton, 38, suddenly ran from the house and jumped into nearby Lake Cunningham.

Shelton was “unknown” to the officers and “unrelated to the warrant,” according to the sheriff’s office — who said he leaped in the lake “for unknown reasons.”

“Deputies say the man swam a short distance before going underwater and not resurfacing. GCSO deputies on scene jumped into the water to locate him, but were unsuccessful,” according to the officers.

Shelton’s body was retrieved by divers later that afternoon.


A house on River Road.
A South Carolina man drowned on Sunday when running from police near River Road in Greer.
Google Maps

Lake Cunningham from above.
Shelton’s body was found by divers a few hours after the drowning.
Google Maps

His cause of death was ruled an accidental freshwater drowning, the Greenville News reported.

The individual who the warrant was intended for has not been identified, and the address on River Road could not be reached by phone. Greenville County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment