A judge amended the Attempted Murder charge to Assault and Battery 1st Degree at bond court. McManus received a $101,112.50 surety bond.
All deputies are resting, and none have had serious injuries. No K-9s were injured.
Original Release: Several Deputies Injured and Patrol Cars Damaged During Pursuit
07/08/25
The Richland County Sheriff’s Department announces the arrest of McManus, John (DOB: 11/21/94).
On July 8, just after 10:45 p.m., an RCSD deputy initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle on I-77N near Farrow Rd for speeding at 90 mph in a 60 mph speed zone. The vehicle came to a stop; however, the driver fled at a high rate of speed while the deputy asked the driver for his identification. A pursuit began reaching speeds over 100 mph. During the pursuit, the driver drove through a construction zone and attempted to cross over the median into oncoming traffic, but was prevented by a cable barrier in the median. The driver then reversed course and began driving into oncoming traffic while going southbound in the northbound lanes. At times during the pursuit, the driver drove head-on towards deputies to wreck into deputies. At one point during the pursuit, the driver intentionally collided with the passenger side of a patrol vehicle, disabling the vehicle and continuing to flee. Two additional deputy patrol vehicles collided with one another while attempting to stop the suspect, who was driving dangerously to evade deputies. The pursuit ended when a K-9 vehicle collided with the suspect vehicle to stop the pursuit. The driver began to flee on foot before surrendering once a K-9 was deployed.
A female passenger was located in the vehicle, and she stated the driver refused to allow her out of the vehicle during the pursuit.
Master Deputy Collins Harper sustained injuries from the intentional collision. K-9 Specialist Sam Ramirez sustained injuries from a collision. Cpl. Thomas Young was transported to the hospital by another deputy after injuries from a collision and released early this morning.
The driver, McManus, was charged with Reckless Driving, Failure to Stop for Blue Lights and Siren, No SC Driver’s License, Speeding 25 or More MPH Over Limit, Kidnapping, and Attempted Murder.