SC

Mayoral Candidate Received Threats?

Larry Sypolt – a former Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) analyst who is currently running for mayor of Columbia, S.C. – may be one of the names on the alleged Columbia Police Department (CPD) “hit list.” Sypolt was not immediately available to confirm the report, but sources familiar with the…

Larry Sypolt – a former Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) analyst who is currently running for mayor of Columbia, S.C. – may be one of the names on the alleged Columbia Police Department (CPD) “hit list.”

Sypolt was not immediately available to confirm the report, but sources familiar with the list tell FITS his name was a “recent addition.”

As we reported earlier this week, CPD leaders have been accused of  a “hit list” of prominent citizens – including elected officials, law enforcement officers and reporters – who are being targeted. Our sources claim the list is part of an emerging “race war” within city government – in which African-American leaders want to preserve “black control” of the city’s key institutions.

Sypolt is white. Benjamin and most of his cronies are black. Of course several black officers at CPD tell FITS there is a “hit list” – but that its author is interim police chief Ruben Santiago (who is hispanic). Santiago has already been accused of some “hit list” related activity – allegedly telling a subordinate to plant drugs on an as-yet-unnamed city official – but he has denied the rumors and filed a defamation suit against the individual who made the claims.

Anyway …

According to our sources, the plan was to stop Sypolt on suspicion of driving under the influence and then plant cocaine in his vehicle. Agents with the S.C. State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) – who are currently investigating the CPD – reportedly interviewed Sypolt in an effort to get him to reveal details of the alleged plot, but our sources say he declined to provide investigators with the name of his informant.

***

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52 comments

Jay Ellington July 24, 2013 at 5:05 pm

We traded the witch (Coble) for the devil (Benjamin), a miniature warlock (Scott), a succubus (Wilson), a hantu demon (Santiago), a hobgoblin (Johnson), and a whole mess of zombies (Benjamin supporters).

Reply
Finius Nullis July 24, 2013 at 5:34 pm

HAH! Very good!

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Soft Sigh from Hell July 24, 2013 at 8:22 pm

What next, ghouls returned from the dead (Cromartie, Austin)?

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CorruptionInColumbia July 24, 2013 at 10:23 pm

An unholy alliance if ever there was one!

Reply
junior justice July 25, 2013 at 9:41 am

There can be only one “HOLY CITY” in SC —

Jay Ellington July 25, 2013 at 12:05 pm

Could it be Illuminati?

CorruptionInColumbia July 25, 2013 at 12:11 pm

More like “shadow government”, at least where Big C is concerned. Get him between you and the sun on a hot day and all is good.

Smirks July 25, 2013 at 8:32 am

Where’s Ash Williams when you need him?

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The Ghost of Fat Greg Dulli July 24, 2013 at 5:05 pm

We traded the witch (Coble) for the devil (Benjamin), a miniature warlock (Scott), a succubus (Wilson), a hantu demon (Santiago), a hobgoblin (Johnson), and a whole mess of zombies (Benjamin supporters).

Reply
Finius Nullis July 24, 2013 at 5:34 pm

HAH! Very good!

Reply
Soft Sigh from Hell July 24, 2013 at 8:22 pm

What next, ghouls returned from the dead (Cromartie, Austin)?

Reply
CorruptionInColumbia July 24, 2013 at 10:23 pm

An unholy alliance if ever there was one!

Reply
junior justice July 25, 2013 at 9:41 am

There can be only one “HOLY CITY” in SC —

The Ghost of Fat Greg Dulli July 25, 2013 at 12:05 pm

Could it be Illuminati?

CorruptionInColumbia July 25, 2013 at 12:11 pm

More like “shadow government”, at least where Big C is concerned. Get him between you and the sun on a hot day and all is good.

Smirks July 25, 2013 at 8:32 am

Where’s Ash Williams when you need him?

Reply
Squishy123 July 24, 2013 at 5:30 pm

In a business with problems this bad you come in and fire everyone and tell them if they want their job back to re-apply.

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BrigidBernadette July 24, 2013 at 9:08 pm

Anyone with pending charges needs to wait till they re-apply.

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Squishy123 July 24, 2013 at 5:30 pm

In a business with problems this bad you come in and fire everyone and tell them if they want their job back to re-apply.

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Brigid July 24, 2013 at 9:08 pm

Anyone with pending charges needs to wait till they re-apply.

Reply
Wild man July 24, 2013 at 6:18 pm

This just makes me wonder: What list are you on, Fits?

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Wild man July 24, 2013 at 6:18 pm

This just makes me wonder: What list are you on, Fits?

Reply
Squishy123 July 24, 2013 at 6:23 pm

This city needs an enema!!!

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Squishy123 July 24, 2013 at 6:23 pm

This city needs an enema!!!

Reply
Soft Sigh from Hell July 24, 2013 at 7:12 pm

Did even Boss Tweed or Mayor Daly go this low?

Reply
Soft Sigh from Hell July 24, 2013 at 7:12 pm

Did even Boss Tweed or Mayor Daly go this low?

Reply
Scotty July 24, 2013 at 7:13 pm

City of Columbia is a FRICKING Mess

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Only God Scares Me July 24, 2013 at 9:26 pm

The entire State of South Carolina is one big cesspool of out of control and unprosecuted corruption. Heck, even all the circuit court judges are tied in with the corruption. What are we going to do about it? These rogues are second guessing what they can get away with. And we are letting them!

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Dan July 24, 2013 at 10:12 pm

“….even all the circuit court judges are tied in with the corruption.” Any and all circuit court judges drunk or sober will tell you they work for exclusively Jean Toal and no one else. If they don’t do as she says, they can and will be assigned to the outer reaches of Jasper County for six months. The assignments are made by Roslyn Frierson, Toal puppet if ever there was one. And Toal has promised Ms. Frierson even though Toal lost that election last April.

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Scotty July 24, 2013 at 7:13 pm

City of Columbia is a FRICKING Mess

Reply
Only God Scares Me July 24, 2013 at 9:26 pm

The entire State of South Carolina is one big cesspool of out of control and unprosecuted corruption. Heck, even all the circuit court judges are tied in with the corruption. What are we going to do about it? These rogues are second guessing what they can get away with. And we are letting them!

Reply
Dan July 24, 2013 at 10:12 pm

“….even all the circuit court judges are tied in with the corruption.” Any and all circuit court judges drunk or sober will tell you they work for exclusively Jean Toal and no one else. If they don’t do as she says, they can and will be assigned to the outer reaches of Jasper County for six months. The assignments are made by Roslyn Frierson, Toal puppet if ever there was one. And Toal has promised Ms. Frierson even though Toal lost that election last April.

Reply
xx July 24, 2013 at 7:45 pm

@Fits – The good news is that there will be a lot more corruption for you to report about.

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xx July 24, 2013 at 7:45 pm

@Fits – The good news is that there will be a lot more corruption for you to report about.

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CorruptionInColumbia July 24, 2013 at 8:11 pm

Just an observation Fits; I still don’t see this as a “race war”. Scott and Santiago targeted Black officers as much as or more than others for their special brand of intense harassment. I will concede that there seems to be a move in upper-level city government toward what former NOLA Mayor Ray Nagin termed, “a chocolate city”.

What is interesting is that Sypolt used to work for King Leon. He is also a cheerleader for combining the Sheriff’s Department and City Police. In my book, that opens suspicion that he may be a member of the Lott family. Given that Benjamin acquiesced in putting Lott’s former Chief Deputy Randy Scott in as CPD Chief, with no one else being given the opportunity to apply, interview, and be seriously considered for the job, is the Lott Family turning on itself? This could get interesting, indeed.

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CorruptionInColumbia July 24, 2013 at 8:11 pm

Just an observation Fits; I still don’t see this as a “race war”. Scott and Santiago targeted Black officers as much as or more than others for their special brand of intense harassment. I will concede that there seems to be a move in upper-level city government toward what former NOLA Mayor Ray Nagin termed, “a chocolate city”.

What is interesting is that Sypolt used to work for King Leon. He is also a cheerleader for combining the Sheriff’s Department and City Police. In my book, that opens suspicion that he may be a member of the Lott family. Given that Benjamin acquiesced in putting Lott’s former Chief Deputy Randy Scott in as CPD Chief, with no one else being given the opportunity to apply, interview, and be seriously considered for the job, is the Lott Family turning on itself? This could get interesting, indeed.

Reply
JMS July 25, 2013 at 2:51 am

I don’t think individuals understand the gravity of tampering with free elections, candidates, and political expression.

If there’s any lesson to be learned from empirical political science, it’s that greater political transparency and deliberation result in less corruption and policies that are more fair reflections of the needs of communities.

Police vigilante-ism indicates no respect for the rule of law, open elections, and can be said to be a characteristic of banana republics.

The country is in very bad shape because of a general disrespect or misunderstanding of the rule of law and its implications. We see this with protestations against the Zimmerman verdict, and other incidents.

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CorruptionInColumbia July 25, 2013 at 7:06 am

“I don’t think individuals understand the gravity of tampering with free elections, candidates, and political expression.”

“What gravity? I do what I want and Darrell covers my butt.”
— Lillian McBribe

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junior justice July 25, 2013 at 9:38 am

—- and it’s a very BIG BUTT to cover

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JMS July 25, 2013 at 2:51 am

I don’t think individuals understand the gravity of tampering with free elections, candidates, and political expression.

If there’s any lesson to be learned from empirical political science, it’s that greater political transparency and deliberation result in less corruption and policies that are more fair reflections of the needs of communities.

Police vigilante-ism indicates no respect for the rule of law, open elections, and can be said to be a characteristic of banana republics.

The country is in very bad shape because of a general disrespect or misunderstanding of the rule of law and its implications. We see this with protestations against the Zimmerman verdict, and other incidents.

Reply
CorruptionInColumbia July 25, 2013 at 7:06 am

“I don’t think individuals understand the gravity of tampering with free elections, candidates, and political expression.”

“What gravity? I do what I want and Darrell covers my butt.”
— Lillian McBribe

Reply
junior justice July 25, 2013 at 9:38 am

—- and it’s a very BIG BUTT to cover

Reply
Smirks July 25, 2013 at 8:28 am

All of these efforts to stop Benji’s opponent are pretty funny when you think about the fact that Columbia will in all likelyhood reelect his corrupt ass regardless of their efforts anyways.

As they say, “You can’t fix stupid.”

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Jay Ellington July 25, 2013 at 8:37 am

And if Columbia doesn’t, Lillian will fix that with “absentee ballots”.

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Smirks July 25, 2013 at 8:28 am

All of these efforts to stop Benji’s opponent are pretty funny when you think about the fact that Columbia will in all likelyhood reelect his corrupt ass regardless of their efforts anyways.

As they say, “You can’t fix stupid.”

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The Ghost of Fat Greg Dulli July 25, 2013 at 8:37 am

And if Columbia doesn’t, Lillian will fix that with “absentee ballots”.

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Billy K Mulligan July 25, 2013 at 10:27 am

Good thing FITS no longer drinks or gets high. Maybe they’ll trump up some other type of charges on you if you keep this up!

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Billy K Mulligan July 25, 2013 at 10:27 am

Good thing FITS no longer drinks or gets high. Maybe they’ll trump up some other type of charges on you if you keep this up!

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Marie Harrison July 25, 2013 at 4:53 pm

Larry will make a great mayor, but he really needs to watch his back. These people play dirty, real dirty. Just look what happened to Sponseller.

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Marie Harrison July 25, 2013 at 4:53 pm

Larry will make a great mayor, but he really needs to watch his back. These people play dirty, real dirty. Just look what happened to Sponseller.

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Yeah July 25, 2013 at 9:31 pm

All I know is I want to get out of CPD immediately. If there not corupt there incompetent. The whole place is a joke! Some of these fools in leadership have no business being a Cpl much less a Capt, Lt, or Sgt. Have you seen our SWAT team? Most are over weight and or under qualified. Nearly all squads are under staffed, cars aren’t even pursuit rated, nor do we even have enough vehicles for some if not all regions. Now this fool Santiago wants to buy gyro helicopters and “sophisticated” software programs that help determine when a crime is likely to happen. Give me a break! Invest in your officers (raises and take home cars) and make your officers happy. Richland County Deputies come to CPD and immediately get put on specialized units and given take home cars. I can go on and on. Believe me nearly every officer wants to leave and I am no exception. I will be gone sooner than later. Time to clean house, The City of Columbia needs an entire new regime.

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Yeah July 25, 2013 at 9:31 pm

All I know is I want to get out of CPD immediately. If there not corupt there incompetent. The whole place is a joke! Some of these fools in leadership have no business being a Cpl much less a Capt, Lt, or Sgt. Have you seen our SWAT team? Most are over weight and or under qualified. Nearly all squads are under staffed, cars aren’t even pursuit rated, nor do we even have enough vehicles for some if not all regions. Now this fool Santiago wants to buy gyro helicopters and “sophisticated” software programs that help determine when a crime is likely to happen. Give me a break! Invest in your officers (raises and take home cars) and make your officers happy. Richland County Deputies come to CPD and immediately get put on specialized units and given take home cars. I can go on and on. Believe me nearly every officer wants to leave and I am no exception. I will be gone sooner than later. Time to clean house, The City of Columbia needs an entire new regime.

Reply

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