New rightwing hero, Bennie:
He was sued for allegations of excessive force
Deputy Ben Fields
In 2007, a couple sued Fields, fellow deputy Joseph Clark and Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott, alleging false arrest, excessive force and violation of free speech rights in 2005.
According to the complaint, Carlos Edward Martin was driving home and got out of his car when Fields approached him and asked whether he was the source of an excessive noise complaint that the officer was investigating.
Martin claimed that Fields "slammed him to the ground, cuffed him, began kicking him, and chemically maced him until his clothing was drenched and the contents of the can of mace was [sic] depleted," according to court documents.
When Martin's wife, Tashiana Martin, took pictures with her cell phone, Fields told a responding officer to confiscate her phone, according to the lawsuit.
A jury ruled in favor of Fields on some part of the lawsuit and other parts were dismissed, court documents said.
He faces another lawsuit
Fields is one of 10 defendants in another case, scheduled to go to trial in January.
In that lawsuit, former Spring Valley High School student Ashton James Reese claims he was unlawfully expelled from school in 2013. At the time, Fields was investigating alleged gang activity at the school.
Reese claimed several offenses in the suit, including lack of due process, negligence, negligent supervision and a violation of the right to public education -- as mandated by state law.
The jury trial is scheduled for January 27-29 in Columbia.
Spring Valley High School officer Ben Fields' career marked with lawsuits, award - CNN.com