State trooper arrested, fired for disorderly conduct | Crime

A former state trooper was arrested for disorderly conduct after he refused to obey police orders outside the Colonial Life Arena Friday.

Upon arrival, police say 38-year-old Eric Sox was causing a scene by being loud and boisterous.  

Officers say they ordered Sox to vacate the parking lot, but he ignored their request and stuck his middle finger up at officers refusing to move, the report stated.

When officer tried to arrest Sox he got into the front seat of a friend’s vehicle and refused to move. Several USC officers who witnessed the incident stepped in to help make the arrest.

According to Sherri Iacobelli with the Department of Public Safety, Sox was terminated from the SC Highway Patrol on Monday. Iacobelli says Sox had been with the department since 2000 and served with Troop 7 headquartered in Orangeburg County.

Police say Sox was unsteady on his feet, had slurred speech and a strong odor of alcohol on him at the time of his arrest.