FLORENCE, SC (WMBF) – Drama is plaguing the Florence Housing Authority, and in this latest saga there is now a commissioner, Executive Director Dr. He calls for an investigation into Alphonso Bradley.

Commissioner Thomas Porter said a car crash involving housing authority consultant Cheveron Scott and the discovery of a shattered alcohol bottle in the backseat was just the tip of the iceberg.

“The thing is, why is there a liquor bottle in the back of this car,” Porter said. “He should never have been in the car.”

The crash occurred on the afternoon of June 1 at the intersection of Lamar Highway and Rogers Road in Darlington County.

Scott reportedly attempted to cross the Lamar Expressway by underestimating the speed of an oncoming car and the driver hit him, causing him to crash into another car.

In an internal memo, Scott reluctantly admits it was his fault, but makes no mention of the discovered alcohol.

Porter said there was generally no reason for a lawyer to take a company car on the weekend, and what happened next was even more concerning.

“HR had absolutely no knowledge that attorney Scott was given driving privilege,” former human resources manager Casey Morris said.

Morris said that when he learned of the accident, Bradley said he would personally handle the incident.

He added that this was an unusual situation.

“Whenever there was an accident during my tenure there, I immediately went to the office,” Morris said.

Although he was advised to step aside, Morris said the staff continued to ask him questions, so he answered and eventually went to Bradley’s office.

“I was suspended without pay, as well as the facilities assistant,” he said. “He was suspended without pay and the MOD inspector was subsequently fired for this incident. We were all just doing our jobs, doing the tasks we usually do when a car accident occurs.

Morris said gossiping got him suspended and he resigned a few weeks later.

It’s been months and the car is still on housing authority property.

Meanwhile, Porter said he’s still waiting for Bradley to explain everything.

“That was five months ago and it’s still here. But you’ll handle it,” he said. “Is this how you handle it? Is this how you handle everything?”

When WMBF Investigations started asking questions about the accident and its aftermath, Scott gave us a call.

He declined to go on the record, but the incident report he sent to the housing authority matches the police reports but does not mention alcohol.

Bradley initially agreed to be interviewed by WMBF News but withdrew a day later, instead sending us this statement:

“In June 2024, an employee of the Florence Housing Authority had an accident while driving his company vehicle. The employee fully complied with the Agency’s policies by immediately reporting the incident and cooperating with both law enforcement and the Agency’s internal protocols.

Following this incident, it came to the attention of the Organization that false information about the accident was circulating within the Institution and among the public. An internal investigation was conducted to determine the source of these inaccuracies, which led to the identification of multiple employees responsible for disseminating false information. As a result, appropriate disciplinary measures were taken in line with the Agency’s policy.

Florence Housing Authority is committed to providing a fair and respectful work environment where confidentiality is a priority. “To protect the privacy and rights of everyone involved, the Agency will not be commenting further at this time.”

Porter said the Florence community deserves better than this.

“I’m just protecting the agency,” he said. “If you don’t like Thomas Porter, that’s okay. But the problems are still real.”

One of the fired employees is now suing the housing authority for wrongful termination.

WMBF News contacted the rest of the commissioners to see if they shared Porter’s concerns and called for Bradley to be placed on leave. There was no response as of Wednesday.

Stay tuned to WMBF News for updates.

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