Drama in the driver's seat of the Florence Housing Authority

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

Commissioner Thomas Porter said a car accident involving housing authority counsel Cheveron Scott, in which a broken bottle of alcohol was found in the backseat, is just the tip of the iceberg.

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

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

Scott was reportedly trying to cross Lamar Highway when he underestimated the speed of an oncoming car, causing the driver to hit him and send him crashing into another car.

In an internal memo, Scott reluctantly admits it was his fault, but does not specify which alcohol was discovered.

Commissioner Thomas Porter said a car accident involving housing authority counsel... — Commissioner Thomas Porter said a car accident involving housing authority counsel Cheveron Scott, in which a broken bottle of alcohol was found in the backseat, is just the tip of the iceberg.

Porter said there is generally no reason for an attorney to have a company car on the weekend, and what happened next is even more concerning.

“HR had absolutely no idea that Attorney Scott had ever been given the privilege of driving a car,” said Casey Morris, a former HR administrator.

Morris said that by the time she heard about the crash, Bradley told her he would handle it personally.

She added that that was unusual.

“Every other accident that occurred during my tenure there, I immediately went to the office,” Morris said.

Although Morris was advised to step aside, the staff told her to keep asking her questions, so she answered and ended up in Bradley’s office.

“I was suspended without pay, as was the facilities assistant,” she said. “She was suspended without pay and then the MOD inspector was eventually dismissed over this incident. We were all just doing our jobs, doing our duties, what we normally do when a car accident happens.”

Morris said the gossip got her suspended and she resigned a few weeks later.

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

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

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

When WMBF Investigates started asking questions about the accident and aftermath, Scott called us.

He declined to make this public, but an incident report he sent to the housing authority matches police reports but does not mention the alcohol.

Bradley initially agreed to an interview with WMBF News, but backed out a day later, sending us this statement:

“In June 2024, a Florence Housing Authority employee was involved in an accident while driving a commercial vehicle. The employee fully complied with Agency policy by promptly reporting the incident and cooperating with both law enforcement authorities and Agency internal protocols.

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

The Housing Authority of Florence is committed to maintaining a fair and respectful work environment, where confidentiality is paramount. To protect the privacy and rights of all involved, the Agency will make no further comment at this time.”

Porter said the Florence community deserves better than this.

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

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

WMBF News reached out to the rest of the commissioners to see if they shared Porter’s concerns and calls for Bradley to be placed on leave. No responses had been received as of Wednesday.

Stay with WMBF News for updates.