A Ladson woman was Tased and arrested after authorities say she grabbed and kicked a deputy who was trying to detain her teenage son during a chaotic Halloween party disturbance in Ridgeville. Summer Dale Walsh, 44, was taken to the Hill-Finklea Detention Center and charged with assault on law enforcement following the altercation, which also saw a large crowd surround the deputy before scattering.
The disturbance unfolded Friday night at a Halloween party in Ridgeville, according to the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office. An off-duty deputy working the event, as reported by Live 5 News, was alerted to a physical altercation involving several people on the property. Live 5 News reported that event staff had asked deputies to remove several people after a large group became embroiled in a verbal confrontation. WCIV/ABC News 4 reported that event staff asked the deputy to remove one juvenile — later identified as Walsh's son — who reportedly refused to comply when a deputy tried to escort him off the premises. Live 5 News, citing the same investigation, reported that several juveniles had refused to leave and ignored instructions from deputies, while Count on 2's account centers on the one juvenile who would not comply when deputies moved to remove him.
Mother Intervenes as Son Is Handcuffed
As the deputy moved to take the juvenile into custody, Walsh — identified as the boy's mother — grabbed the deputy and tried to free her son after he had already been handcuffed, the station's report states. The deputy then took Walsh to the ground to detain her, and she allegedly kicked at him during the struggle. Facing continued resistance, the deputy deployed his Taser on Walsh before placing her into custody.
The confrontation did not end there. A large crowd surrounded the deputy during the incident, per the same account, with several unidentified individuals attempting to interfere with Walsh's detention. Additional altercations reportedly broke out among other attendees, but those involved left the scene before investigators could identify or question them.
Deputy Gets Help From Bystanders to Reach Patrol Car
With tensions still high, the deputy ultimately relied on bystanders to help escort both Walsh and her son to his patrol vehicle. The juvenile was later released from handcuffs and allowed to leave the scene, while Walsh was transported to the Hill-Finklea Detention Center and booked on the assault charge, according to Live 5 News.
WCIV reported that the deputy had been working an off-duty assignment near Rudd Road in Ridgeville when the altercation broke out, and also noted that Walsh is from Ladson, according to WCIV. The Berkeley County Sheriff's Office said the investigation remains active and is urging anyone with additional information about the disturbance to come forward.
No court disposition, bond details, or additional charges tied to the other altercations have been released, and the exact venue and time of the party have not been specified beyond Friday night. Investigators have not identified the deputy involved or described any injuries sustained during the struggle.
