A Columbia Police Department officer who was recently hired as a school resource officer was arrested Tuesday morning by his fellow officers for voyeurism at Columbia Elementary School, but the Columbia School District reports no students were involved.
Tyson Rushing, 22, of Tylertown was booked into the Marion County Regional Correctional Facility at 11:48 a.m. and is being held without bond. The official charge is voyeurism (trespass by peeping tom), which is a felony.
“We want to inform you about the recent arrest of a School Safety Officer (SSO) at the Columbia School District,” Columbia Superintendent Jason Harris said in a statement. “After investigating, it was determined that no Columbia School District students were involved in the incident. The individual in question was promptly removed from our campus and arrested by the Columbia Police Department. We understand that this news may be alarming. We are fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation led by the CPD under the direction of Interim Police Chief Brad Anderson.
“The former SSO had only been employed by the CPD and on duty with the CSD for approximately two weeks. Our administration is actively reviewing the situation and taking necessary steps to address any concerns that may arise. We are also working closely with local authorities to ensure we follow their procedures and guidelines. Our utmost priority is maintaining a safe and secure school environment for our students and employees, and we are committed to upholding this duty.”
Interim Police Chief Brad Anderson was not immediately available for comment.
The Columbian-Progress does not yet know any further details, but it will continue to provide updates as more information is made available.
