Solicitor’s office: Latta woman pleads guilty, sentenced for attempting to light officer on fire

DILLON COUNTY, S.C. (WMBF) - A Latta woman was sentenced to six and a half years in prison for attempting to light an officer on fire last year.

The solicitor’s office said 38-year-old Melissa McCoy pled guilty to first-degree assault and battery on Tuesday.

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On Dec. 30, 2023, Latta police attempted to arrest McCoy for trespassing when she threw lighter fluid onto one of the officers and tried lighting the officer on fire.

“Our police officers are already overworked and underpaid,” said Assistant Solicitor Shipp Daniel. “The last thing they need is for someone to attempt to evade arrest by spraying lighter fluid on the officer and attempting to light him on fire. We take behavior like that against our law enforcement agents seriously, and we are pleased the Court does also.”

McCoy must serve at least 55% of her sentence.

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