Dash cam footage disputes medical claim in police chief crash probe
By: -----
Columbia, SC - Dash cam video is showing what appears to be contradicting details in the investigation of a police chief who crashed into a vehicle with a woman and her two small children inside.
At the time, authorities said the crash was the result of a medical episode. However, the video and a toxicology report appear to tell a different story of what happened that day.
Nearly two hours of state trooper dash cam video footage shows South Congaree Police Chief Steve Jonas being placed under arrest for being under the influence after crashing into another car back in August.
Witnesses say the vehicle Chief Jonas crashed into had a woman and two small children inside. The dash video goes on to show Chief Jonas being instructed to do a field sobriety test.
The toxicology report that shows there was a 1.5 concentration of some kind of substance in Jonas’ blood, but the substance is blacked out on the report.
In the dash cam video footage, the state trooper asks Jonas if he is taking any medication. Jonas quickly responds no, then retracts that statement. He then goes to tell the trooper something in response to what medication he might be taking, but the sound is cut off.
The video also shows the ride to the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. During that time, the trooper asks Jonas if he’d like to take off his work shirt that reveals who he is.
About a month after the crash, in late September, the Town of South Congaree announced that Steve Jonas had retired. He was first appointed chief in August 2024.