Gunman Threatens Sumter, SC, Firefighters at Incident

Sumter firefighters were checking on an outside fire when they were confronted by the gun-toting man.

A man was arrested in South Carolina on Monday night after he used a gun to threaten firefighters who were in the line of duty, according to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.

At about 9 p.m., crews responded to a fire in the woods behind a fast food restaurant on U.S. 15 South, the sheriff’s office said in a Tuesday night news release.

Deputies were also called after firefighters encountered 51-year-old Michael Lee Hodge, according to the release. Hodge pointed a gun at the firefighters, the sheriff’s office said.

No injuries were reported.

There was no word about the cause of the fire, how long it took to extinguish, or any damage caused.

Hodge was taken to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center where he was charged with first-degree assault & battery, according to the release. He remained locked up as of Tuesday night, and further information about Hodge’s bond was not available.

On May 4, Hodge was arrested on a public disorderly conduct charge, Sumter County court records show. Hodge was later found guilty and credited with time served in jail, after he failed to post the $257.50 bond, according to court records.

©2026 The State. Visit thestate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

 

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