Uploaded May 2021 | Updated September 2026, 4 hours ago
April 2021
Cherokee County Law Enforcement Center
312 East Frederick Street
Gaffney, South Carolina 29340
Transparency is nonexistent at the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office South Carolina.
Cameras are considered weapons, and not allowed in the building.
Sheriff Steve Mueller is unavailable to answer questions, and deputies avoid being recorded.
Armed security guard is told to not let me in the building.
The sign says:
NOTICE, WEAPONS OF ANY KIND, POCKETKNIVES, CELL PHONES, CAMERAS
AND PAGERS ARE NOT PERMITTED IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER
Federal Law says:
The State shall make no law abridging the freedom of the speech, or of the press, or prohibiting the right of the people to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
No one here at the Sheriff's Office is willing or able to present a Law, Statute, or Judges Order to support the unconstitutional sign that prohibits Cell Phone Cameras Inside The Law Enforcement Center. The Security Guard says "videotaping is illegal", but the deputies just ignore me. The civilian employee tells the Security Guard "they said to let him stay out there and not let him in". I eventually exit the vestibule, and continue recording outside. A Lieutenant approaches me and asks if he can help. I let him know the questions I had, he says I'll need to talk to the Sheriff for that. He says to "hang tight, I'll go get someone for you to talk to". He goes inside the building through the staff door, and I go to the front and read more signs while I wait. After realizing no one is coming out to answer questions, I make my way to the front sidewalk and finish up the video. A pink shirt guy steps out the side door and starts surveilling me from a distance. I record him, and walk up the sidewalk to my vehicle and leave the area.
There is a $100 fine for running your car unattended Section 56-5-2570 Title 56
South Carolina Code of Laws for Motor Vehicles
scstatehouse.gov/code/t56c005.php
No person driving or in charge of a motor vehicle shall permit it to stand unattended without first stopping the engine, locking the ignition, removing the key and effectively setting the brake thereon and, when standing upon any grade, turning the front wheels to the curb or side of the highway.
Photography is permitted in all South Carolina state courts including the SC Supreme Court, SC Court of Appeals, Circuit Courts, Family Courts, Probate Courts, Master-in-Equity Courts, Municipal Courts and Magistrate Courts.
The Supreme Court of South Carolina ORDERs/ IN COURTROOMS ONLY
Jean H. Toal, Chief Justice Columbia, South Carolina August 25, 2000
The use of pagers, cell phones, and other personal communication devices has increased dramatically and many users see them as a necessary incident to their work and personal lives. While these devices may be seen as enhancing communication, they are also increasingly being recognized as a distraction and as having no place in certain venues.
Accordingly, as of the date of this Order, the use of audible pagers, cell phones, and any other personal communication device by any attorneys, jurors, staff members, litigants, witnesses, or members of the general public, is banned in all COURTROOMS in this State.
Except with the express permission of the presiding judge, these devices must be turned off, or placed in a silent mode, such as vibrate, prior to being carried into any courtroom. Should a device which has been placed in a silent mode activate in the courtroom, the person possessing the device must exit the courtroom prior to responding in any fashion.
Unless otherwise specified by the presiding judge, jurors actually selected to serve on a jury must leave their cell phones, pagers, or other communications devices with the Clerk's Office, bailiffs, or other responsible individual identified by the presiding judge, when they arrive at the courthouse in the morning and may retrieve them during lunch breaks and at the end of the day. Violation of the terms of this Order may result in the confiscation of the equipment and the violator may be held in contempt of court and subject to sanctions.
Notice of the contents of this Order shall be given to jurors and posted on courtroom doors. IT IS SO ORDERED.
This Order does not apply to law enforcement officers unless the officer
is present in the courtroom as a witness.
April 2021
Cherokee County Law Enforcement Center
312 East Frederick Street
Gaffney, South Carolina 29340
Transparency is nonexistent at the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office South Carolina.
Cameras are considered weapons, and not allowed in the building.
Sheriff Steve Mueller is unavailable to answer questions, and deputies avoid being recorded.
Armed security guard is told to not let me in the building.
The sign says:
NOTICE, WEAPONS OF ANY KIND, POCKETKNIVES, CELL PHONES, CAMERAS
AND PAGERS ARE NOT PERMITTED IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER
Federal Law says:
The State shall make no law abridging the freedom of the speech, or of the press, or prohibiting the right of the people to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
No one here at the Sheriff's Office is willing or able to present a Law, Statute, or Judges Order to support the unconstitutional sign that prohibits Cell Phone Cameras Inside The Law Enforcement Center. The Security Guard says "videotaping is illegal", but the deputies just ignore me. The civilian employee tells the Security Guard "they said to let him stay out there and not let him in". I eventually exit the vestibule, and continue recording outside. A Lieutenant approaches me and asks if he can help. I let him know the questions I had, he says I'll need to talk to the Sheriff for that. He says to "hang tight, I'll go get someone for you to talk to". He goes inside the building through the staff door, and I go to the front and read more signs while I wait. After realizing no one is coming out to answer questions, I make my way to the front sidewalk and finish up the video. A pink shirt guy steps out the side door and starts surveilling me from a distance. I record him, and walk up the sidewalk to my vehicle and leave the area.
There is a $100 fine for running your car unattended Section 56-5-2570 Title 56
South Carolina Code of Laws for Motor Vehicles
scstatehouse.gov/code/t56c005.php
No person driving or in charge of a motor vehicle shall permit it to stand unattended without first stopping the engine, locking the ignition, removing the key and effectively setting the brake thereon and, when standing upon any grade, turning the front wheels to the curb or side of the highway.
Photography is permitted in all South Carolina state courts including the SC Supreme Court, SC Court of Appeals, Circuit Courts, Family Courts, Probate Courts, Master-in-Equity Courts, Municipal Courts and Magistrate Courts.
The Supreme Court of South Carolina ORDERs/ IN COURTROOMS ONLY
Jean H. Toal, Chief Justice Columbia, South Carolina August 25, 2000
The use of pagers, cell phones, and other personal communication devices has increased dramatically and many users see them as a necessary incident to their work and personal lives. While these devices may be seen as enhancing communication, they are also increasingly being recognized as a distraction and as having no place in certain venues.
Accordingly, as of the date of this Order, the use of audible pagers, cell phones, and any other personal communication device by any attorneys, jurors, staff members, litigants, witnesses, or members of the general public, is banned in all COURTROOMS in this State.
Except with the express permission of the presiding judge, these devices must be turned off, or placed in a silent mode, such as vibrate, prior to being carried into any courtroom. Should a device which has been placed in a silent mode activate in the courtroom, the person possessing the device must exit the courtroom prior to responding in any fashion.
Unless otherwise specified by the presiding judge, jurors actually selected to serve on a jury must leave their cell phones, pagers, or other communications devices with the Clerk's Office, bailiffs, or other responsible individual identified by the presiding judge, when they arrive at the courthouse in the morning and may retrieve them during lunch breaks and at the end of the day. Violation of the terms of this Order may result in the confiscation of the equipment and the violator may be held in contempt of court and subject to sanctions.
Notice of the contents of this Order shall be given to jurors and posted on courtroom doors. IT IS SO ORDERED.
This Order does not apply to law enforcement officers unless the officer
is present in the courtroom as a witness.
