The City of Columbia has settled a case against them involving a Myrtle Beach attorney who was arrested in Five Points while questioning Columbia Police while they were arresting his friend.
The city says they have settled with Jonathan David McCoy for $300,000 to resolve the case prior to the trial.
The settlement comes after last week's decision by Federal District Court Judge Joseph F. Anderson ruling a Columbia law dealing with interfering with an officer while he is arresting someone was unconstitutional.
The 1979 law read, "It shall be unlawful for any person to interfere with or molest a police officer in the lawful discharge of his duties."
Anderson contended that the law was unconstitutional because it was "unduly vague."
McCoy's attorneys argued that the ordinance was unconstitutional as applied to the attorney's Oct. 17, 2009 arrest outside Red Hot Tomatoes on Harden Street.
Police arrested McCoy after he raised questions while they were arresting his friend, 25-year-old Allen McAlister.
The city says it will review the ordinance at a future City Council meeting.
Source: WISTV.com