Beaufort County Sheriff’s deputy resigns amid DUI, child endangerment charges, official says
A Beaufort County deputy resigned Tuesday morning, just days after he was charged with driving drunk and child endangerment, a Sheriff’s Office official said.
James Prusinowski, who had been with the agency for more than 12 years, was suspended Friday after he was arrested. He submitted a letter of resignation to Sheriff P.J. Tanner on Tuesday, Maj. Bob Bromage said.
Prusinowski, 36, was charged with first offense DUI with a blood alcohol content of more than .10% but less than .16% and child endangerment, according to Beaufort County court documents and jail log.
S.C. Highway Patrol responded to a vehicle collision in the parking lot at Avalon Shores Apartments on Simmonsville Road in Bluffton just after 9 p.m. Friday, spokesperson Lance Cpl. Matt Southern previously said. Prusinowski allegedly drove a vehicle into a pickup truck, Southern said.
Southern said, generally speaking, suspects charged with DUI also will be charged with child endangerment if there is a child or children in the vehicle at the time.
Prusinowski was booked into the Beaufort County Detention Center early Saturday and was released later that day on a personal recognizance bond totaling $1,836.75.
The Island Packet and The Beaufort Gazette do not typically name those facing misdemeanor charges but are doing so in this case because the suspect holds a position of public trust.
This story was originally published April 2, 2019 at 11:06 AM.
