CONWAY, SC — A new federal lawsuit is raising fresh questions about how Horry County Police handled the 2020 death of Scott Spivey, adding details that were not available when Coastal Carolina News first reported on the case in June.
The lawsuit, filed September 8, claims investigators did not follow required procedures, mishandled evidence and made decisions that may have affected the outcome of the case. More than a dozen current and former officers are listed as defendants, including former Chief Joseph Hill and former Deputy Chief Brandon Strickland. Strickland left the department shortly before state authorities began reviewing possible misconduct tied to the investigation.
The filing outlines concerns about how evidence was collected and preserved, along with questions about leadership decisions made during the early stages of the case. The lawsuit consists of allegations, not findings of fact.
Readers can revisit CCN’s earlier reporting from June 23, 2026 here: Original Coverage: Judge Denies Immunity in Spivey Case
All individuals named in this report are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. Charges and case statuses may change as investigations and court proceedings continue.
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