4 Aiken County Sheriff's officers fired
The Associated Press

AIKEN, S.C. --
Four Aiken County Sheriff's Office investigators were fired and a fifth has been suspended for driving an unmarked government vehicle to bars and a motel with a woman, Sheriff Michael Hunt said Thursday.

The sheriff said he has asked the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division to investigate whether the officers misused government money, improperly destroyed evidence or committed other misconduct.

The fired officers are Lt. Jonathon Owenby, 30, of Aiken; and investigators James Crowell, 33, of North Augusta; Tim Roberts, 29, of Aiken; and Luke Williamson, 34, of North Augusta.

A preliminary investigation by the sheriff's office found Crowell, Owenby, Roberts and Williamson drove a government vehicle to a bar in nearby Augusta, Ga., on Sept. 13 where they drank alcohol. They then left with two women and drove back across the state line to another bar in North Augusta. The officers then drove to a motel with a woman, who performed a sexual act with one officer, Hunt said in a news release.

Narcotics investigator Brian Owens, 38, of Aiken, was suspended with pay pending the outcome of the state investigation, Hunt said.

The officers could not immediately be reached for comment.