Policeman Marion Clifton "Pop" Nettles, Sr.

Marion Clifton "Pop" Nettles, Sr.

Policeman Marion Nettles was stabbed to death by a man he arrested at the bus terminal for disorderly conduct. The subject refused to pay for a sandwich and then got argumentative and abusive with the server.

The subject attacked Policeman Nettles with a knife as they got out of the police car at the police station on Benson Street. Policeman Nettles, stabbed in the head and neck, succumbed to his wounds approximately 45 minutes later. With the use of bloodhounds, the suspect was tracked down eight hours later and arrested.

The 38-year-old suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to life.

One of his sons, Patrolman Norris Nettles, a patrolman with the South Carolina Highway Patrol, died in the line of duty on January 4, 1942.

Policeman Nettles had served with the Walterboro Police Department for seven years. He was survived by his wife and son.

After Policeman Nettles' death, a South Carolina State Representative, upset because Policeman Nettles did not find and take the knife, introduced legislation for a police training center, which finally opened in 1968. Since 1946, the five bloodhounds Monty, Dixie, Brownie, Junior, and Star had an incredible record for catching criminals and recovering money and property worth thousands of dollars.