Jessie Adam Marshall, a sergeant with the Abbeville Police Department (APD), is under investigation after being dismissed from his position on October 19, 2024. His termination reportedly stemmed from “unprofessional behavior” rather than misconduct, as per documents from the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy (SCCJA).
Marshall was let go from his job, where he had worked for almost three years, according to human resources records provided by the town. While the specific reasons for his dismissal aren’t fully clear, an incident report from the Abbeville County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) indicates he was involved in a child custody dispute with his estranged wife on the same day he was terminated by APD Chief Nick Moore.
In the ACSO report, master deputy Dominick Anderson noted responding to the call regarding the custody dispute. Upon his arrival, he encountered Marshall and the children’s grandmother. There were concerns raised about Marshall’s conduct, including a previous complaint concerning his alleged drunkenness after another domestic dispute in September 2022.
Diving deeper into that prior event, a separate deputy had confirmed they detected the smell of alcohol on Marshall during an incident that took place months earlier. The report detailed that the grandmother had expressed frustration, stating that the kids were with a babysitter because Marshall was late in picking them up—something that added tension to the situation.
Interestingly, the babysitter claimed Anderson downplayed the tension in his report. She revealed she waited close to three hours for Marshall to gather his children following a court order for visitation. She expressed her worries about the situation and said she was shocked that it had gone on for so long without serious repercussions for Marshall’s alleged behavior.
Despite a concerning smell of alcohol detected earlier in the day, deputy Anderson stated that Marshall did not appear under the influence at the time. He noted that Marshall was coherent while attempting to retrieve his children and that the situation was resolved without further incident.
Marshall’s situation has received attention in part because he is being investigated as part of a series examining police conduct. Reports indicate that there are ongoing concerns regarding his behavior and the potential drinking problem, giving rise to many allegations from different sources over the past months.
In early 2024, allegations against Marshall escalated as he reportedly engaged in inappropriate online activity, including using an adult subscription service and allegedly wiring money to suspected sex workers, shortly after his wife left the family home due to his drinking issue.
Text messages apparently revealed that Marshall used his connections in the police department to gather information about his estranged wife’s whereabouts, which included using public resources to keep tabs on her personal life. This behavior raised alarms among family members and authorities, leading to further investigations by social services.
In an official report, it was noted that Marshall’s children expressed fears about their father’s drinking and driving, further complicating his custody situation as he filed for divorce, claiming infidelity.
As the investigation unveiled more concerning details regarding Marshall’s personal life, including alleged infidelities, claims of stalking, and substance abuse, it became apparent that multiple reports against him highlighted troubling patterns of behavior, raising questions about his fitness for duty.
As of November 4, 2024, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) confirmed they are conducting an active investigation into alleged misconduct by Jessie Marshall at the request of the APD.
Marshall has not commented publicly about the ongoing investigations or his termination.
