WALHALLA — A man once charged with leading a volunteer Upstate rescue squad is now facing allegations he stole from that organization, the State Law Enforcement Division announced.

William David Tatum, 49, was arrested Aug. 22 and charged with embezzlement of public funds valued at $10,000 or more, the agency said in a press release. SLED identified Tatum as a former chief of Walhalla Rescue Squad.

Tatum "used public funds for personal gains" from Jan. 1, 2015, to May 1, 2022, a warrant said. It did not specify an exact amount or how the money was used.

The squad released a statement Aug. 14 confirming the investigation and stressing that it did not involve suspicions about anyone currently involved in the organization.

Tatum, who once led the South Carolina EMS Association, joined

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