The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division rescued 19 dogs from a dogfighting event in Sumter County. Four men were charged on Thursday, Sept. 17, for their alleged involvement in arranging the illegal fight.

SLED released arrest warrants on Monday, Sept. 21, detailing that back in September 2022, authorities, with assistance of the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office and Sumter Police Department, executed a search warrant on a property along Hallwood Road in Eastover.

Upon arrival, authorities observed people standing around a pit watching two dogs fight. Eighteen people were arrested that night while many others escaped, SLED said.

Among those arrested were Andrew Jeffrey Bryant Jr., 39, of Sumter, Tevin V. Joyner, 32, of Rembert, and Orlando Raynell Coullette, 49, of Sumter.

Robert Brandon Hansley, 44, of Sumter, was not present at the illegal fight but was later arrested after being identified as another organizer.

The four suspects were identified as part of the group that arranged the illegal fight called the “Carolina Classic,” SLED said.

All four men were charged with four counts each of animal fighting or baiting, ill treatment of animals and criminal conspiracy, according to SLED.

Hansley was also charged with first-offense presence at a facility of animal fighting or baiting, SLED said.

Each man was booked into the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center in Richland County.

The case will be prosecuted by the 5th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.