Crime & Safety
Richland County, SC Chase Oct 20: 6 Deputies, K-9 Sprayed With Bear Spray
COLUMBIA, SC – A Tuesday morning traffic stop escalated into a two county pursuit and violent confrontation after a driver allegedly sprayed six sheriff's deputies and a police K 9 with bear spray bef
By Lena Wood · 2026-10-20T23:45:08.882Z
COLUMBIA, SC – A Tuesday morning traffic stop escalated into a two county pursuit and violent confrontation after a driver allegedly sprayed six sheriff's deputies and a police K 9 with bear spray before being taken into custody in Fairfield County.
According to a joint announcement from Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott and Fairfield County Sheriff Will Montgomery, the incident began around 10:40 a.m. Tuesday, October 20, when a Richland County deputy stopped a vehicle on Fairfield Road near Interstate 20 for speeding and failing to maintain its lane.
Authorities said the driver refused to provide identification and fled, triggering a pursuit that continued into neighboring Fairfield County.
The chase ended near Columbia Road and Ninth Street after a Richland County K 9 unit used a precision immobilization technique, commonly called a PIT maneuver, to disable the fleeing vehicle.
Deputies identified the driver as 53 year old Keith Kasyjanski.
Investigators allege Kasyjanski continued resisting officers and was apprehended by K 9 Ares. During the confrontation, he allegedly deployed bear spray against the police dog before spraying five Richland County deputies and one Fairfield County deputy.
Deputies used a Taser to gain control of Kasyjanski and take him into custody.
Emergency medical personnel decontaminated all six deputies at the scene, while the K 9's handler decontaminated Ares.
Authorities said Kasyjanski was transported to a local hospital for treatment following the dog bite and Taser deployment.
He was charged by Richland County authorities with reckless driving and failure to stop for blue lights and siren.
Fairfield County authorities said he faces additional charges involving six counts of assaulting a law enforcement officer while resisting arrest and one count of injuring a police dog.
Deputies also determined Kasyjanski was wanted by both the Fairfield County Sheriff's Office and Winnsboro Department of Public Safety.
Following his hospital discharge, officials said he would be transported to the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.
The allegations remain subject to court proceedings, and Kasyjanski is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.