Florence County Sheriff’s Office releases video of deputy arresting murder suspect after chase through Magnolia Mall

Editor’s note: The video in this story may be disturbing to some viewers.

FLORENCE COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — The Florence County Sheriff’s Office released video Thursday of the moments a deputy tased and arrested a murder suspect after a chase that ended inside of Magnolia Mall.

The video shows the deputy get out of the car and chase after the suspect, who runs into the mall. After the suspect appeared pulled out a gun, the deputy pulled out his taser and used it on the suspect.

As the man falls to the floor, he drops the gun and it slides across the floor of the mall.

“Put your hands behind your back! That gun about got you killed,” the deputy said.

“The hell’s your problem man?” the deputy said as he put the suspect in handcuffs.

Less than 30 seconds passed between the time the deputy got out of his vehicle and the arrest.

Sheriff TJ Joye praised Cpl. Tommy Rauch for his decision making. He said Rauch showed good split-second judgement to use his taser instead of his gun inside the mall.

Joye said he’s not sure he would’ve made the correct decision his deputy made.

“I’m going to be honest with you,” Joye said. “I don’t know if I would’ve transitioned from the weapon to my taser. I don’t believe I would’ve done that. It’s breathtaking. It truly is.”

“This guy’s already wanted for one murder,” Joye said. “For them to apprehend him the way they did without someone getting hurt, I applaud them.”

Joye said he was thankful the outcome wasn’t worse.

“So happy that we’re not burying a deputy,” he said. “It was a very intense situation. I’m very proud of the way my deputy handled it. They way they worked, it makes you proud.”

Some mall workers, who declined to go on camera, said they were at the mall when the arrest happened, but because it happened so fast, they didn’t fully see it.

Joye said he released the video less than 24 hours after the arrest for transparency.

“I don’t want any doubt about what happened,” Joye said. “Whether it’s good or bad, it’s going to come to the surface. We did a great job, so I’ll release when we mess up. I’ll release it when we do great.”

The man, Jason Tyvon McRae, was wanted by Robeson County deputies for murder, which the deputies learned about after the arrest.

McRae now also faces six charges in Florence County, including possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop on I-95 when McRae did not stop, according to the sheriff’s office. A chase then ensued that ended at Magnolia Mall.

McRae is from Dillon County and was wanted for a deadly May 2022 shooting in Robeson County.

“We are fortunate to have a great relationship with the local law enforcement agencies and appreciate their prompt response to apprehending the suspect,” Magnolia Mall said in a statement to News13.

McRae’s bond was set at $25,000 on the Florence County charges, but the sheriff’s office doesn’t expect him to be released because Robeson County has a hold on him for the murder charge.