South Carolina Lawman Arrested, Facing Prostitution and Bank Fraud Charges

South Carolina law enforcement officials arrested 43-year-old Fredrick "Treny" Payne on Thursday at the Spartanburg County Detention Center. Agents from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) executed the arrest following an investigation that sources indicate is linked to a massage parlor operation.

Payne most recently worked for the Pacolet Police Department in Spartanburg County before resigning earlier this week. Pacolet Police Chief Joseph Hawes placed Payne on unpaid leave immediately after SLED notified the department regarding the active criminal probe.

"[Payne] subsequently resigned earlier this week," said Chief Joseph Hawes when confirming the officer's employment status to reporters. The suspect was released on bond shortly after his booking at the detention facility.

Records from the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office indicate Payne previously spent over six years working inside the detention center where he was ultimately booked. SLED officials announced that a formal news release containing further details on the charges will be released soon.

State investigators continue to probe public corruption and officer misconduct across local jurisdictions in South Carolina. Payne's case marks another high-profile arrest of a regional law enforcement figure within the span of a single month.