A South Carolina game warden is facing serious trouble after being suspended without pay due to a DUI charge. Walter Patrick Clarey, a law enforcement officer with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), was arrested on August 30, 2024, by Charleston Police.
Clarey, who hails from the Lowcountry, was taken into custody around 12:36 p.m. and booked into the Charleston County Detention Center. Although the specifics of his arrest are not fully clear, reports indicate that he was released within three hours. Details about his bail conditions and the relevant magistrate remain unknown at this time.
It has been noted that Clarey previously played baseball for the Newberry Wolves during his college years at Newberry College. In his 2015 season, he pitched in eleven games, achieving four wins but had a high earned run average of 5.40.
Clarey has expressed that his career goal was to work for the Department of Natural Resources. During college, he mentioned that he enjoys hunting and that one of his proudest moments was winning back-to-back state championships in high school football.
After finishing his baseball career, Clarey trained for six years before becoming a SCDNR officer. He later married his college sweetheart, who is now employed at an elementary school in Charleston County.
As of now, Clarey’s situation is part of a troubling trend, as he is one of several law enforcement officers facing DUI charges in recent months in South Carolina. His case will undoubtedly be watched closely by the public and law enforcement agencies alike as legal proceedings unfold.
This report may be updated as more information becomes available.
