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The former sheriff of York County, South Carolina, was arrested Monday morning (July 14, 2025), according to detention center records which were only briefly made available online.
Kevin Robert Tolson — who served as sheriff from 2016 until withdrawing from an uncontested reelection bid last March — was booked into the same detention center he once oversaw.
According to since-scrubbed information from the York County Detention Center, Tolson was booked at approximately 11:00 a.m. EDT on Monday, July 14, 2025.
Despite multiple calls to the detention center, staff said they could not provide booking photos to the press – referring us to a supervisor’s voicemail. When we called back to request confirmation of Tolson’s arrest, staff hung up the phone on us.
Although FITSNews ultimately obtained internal records confirming the arrest, Tolson’s charges remained unlisted on the state’s public index for hours after his arrest. Individuals familiar with the matter say he has already bonded out of custody.
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Those familiar with the incident allege it began Sunday night, when Tolson reportedly wrecked his truck on Airport Road in Rock Hill — within the county he once led. Despite allegedly fleeing the scene, the former sheriff was said to have been recognized by a nearby resident.
By 9:00 a.m. EDT Monday, at least one warrant had been issued by the S.C. Highway Patrol (SCHP), which ultimately took him into custody.
That warrant (.pdf) was subsequently released by the York County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO). According to a probable cause affidavit accompanying the warrant for his arrest, Tolson failed to report “striking fixtures on or adjacent to the highway.” Specifically, his vehicle “did leave the roadway and did strike a telephone pole and fence causing damage.”
“He then fled the scene but was identified during a police investigation,” the affidavit continued.
Last election cycle, Tolson made headlines by abruptly withdrawing from an uncontested race for sheriff after being invited to help co-found a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on the mental health of first responders. Less than 45 minutes before the deadline to file for partisan primary elections in South Carolina, Tolson’s wife submitted paperwork to run as a Republican for the same office.
No one else filed for the office, meaning Tolson would have been the only name on the November ballot had it not been for significant backlash – which prompted York County Republicans to reopen the filing period.
The county’s top law enforcement post was ultimately won by Tony Breeden.
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UPDATE 2 |
Additional, updated coverage available here…
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UPDATE |
Hours after Tolson’s arrest, YCSO released Tolson’s booking photo.
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This story may be updated.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR…
(Dynal Nolan/FITSNews)
Andrew Fancher is a Lone Star Emmy award-winning journalist from Dallas, Texas. Cut from a bloodline of outlaws and lawmen alike, he was the first of his family to graduate college which was accomplished with honors. Got a story idea or news tip for Andy? Email him directly and connect with him socially across Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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3 comments
I just wonder why you would flee the scene of a accident that only involes your vehicle and property damage. Why Kevin did you run. Hum now let me see. That mug shot that was taken at 11:00 am Sunday morning, with those blood shot eyes is trying to tell me something. I know maybe you and the SLED Lieutenant were at Chuck Wright’s retirement party. Sounds like the Highway Patrol gave you a “break”. But this is just my opinion. I’ll stay tuned and hopefully this will get interesting.
Opps I see now that you and the SLED Lieutenant could not have been at the same social function cause he got popped on Thursday. So now that we have cleared that up, you still screwed up and broke the law.
You are a dog face pony soldier!