Sumter man charged in connection with officer-involved shooting Sumter man charged in connection with officer-involved shooting By Jazmine Greene | February 2, 2021 at 4:06 PM EST - Updated February 2 at 6:24 PM SUMTER COUNTY, S.C. (WIS) - Agents with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division have arrested a man in connection with an officer-involved shooting that occurred over the weekend. Pharis Leon Blair, 37, has been charged with 2nd-degree assault and battery. On January 30, a deputy with the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call about a hostile suspect. Officials say Blair attacked the deputy and repeatedly struck him on the head and in the face.