Wednesday, July 25, 2012

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) -- Investigators say someone glued the name of a suspect killed by a Spartanburg County sheriff's deputy over the highway sign honoring the fallen officer.

Deputies say a green plate with John J. Harris III's name was found on a memorial sign Tuesday night blocking the name of the officer who killed him in the early 1990s.

The sign honors Kevin Carper, who was killed in the line of duty in 2007.

Sheriff Chuck Wright says Carper killed Harris in the early 1990s, and the State Law Enforcement Division ruled the shooting justified. The sheriff says Harris' family did not accept SLED's findings.

Deputies say the glue damaged the sign so badly it will need to be replaced. The sheriff says whomever changed the sign will be charged with vandalism.

(Copyright 2012, The Associated Press)