Newly released dash cam footage captures the arrest of South Carolina’s leading Democratic gubernatorial contender in a chaotic encounter, during which the candidate — clad only in his underwear and shoes — hurled a profanity-laced tirade at police officers while proclaiming himself “God” and “Superman.”
William “Mullins” McLeod, 53, is now facing calls to withdraw from the race just days after entering it, following the public release of footage from his May arrest.
McLeod, a top attorney in the area, was stopped in downtown Charleston while “yelling at the top of his lungs” and wearing only underwear and shoes, according to a police report.
Responding officers also noted that he showed signs “typical of an individual under the influence of a stimulant narcotic.”
In the hour-long video obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, McLeod refuses to give officers his name, instead making references to his upcoming campaign and threatening to kick an opponent’s “f–king teeth in.” Rather than present his ID, the gubernatorial hopeful identifies himself only as “God” and “Superman.”
“It doesn’t matter, my friend, trust me,” McLeod told a police officer when he was asked his name. “I’m one of the most just humans to ever walk this soil. Superman sounds good.”
McLeod also appeared to threaten political rivals who might challenge him in the gubernatorial race. At one point, the Democratic candidate shouted, “I’m gonna kick your f–king teeth in,” seemingly directed at Republican Attorney General Alan Wilson, who announced his own run for governor earlier this year.
During the chaotic arrest, McLeod was heard using the n-word at least twice and later refused to exit the patrol car upon arriving at the jail, telling officers he would rather sleep in the back.
“No, I’m not doing it, no. I’m not getting out of this car. It’s time to go to bed,” he shouted at an officer. Eventually, he was dragged out of the police vehicle and booked into jail shortly after 1 a.m., the New York Post reported.
The police report noted that McLeod’s eyes were “extremely bloodshot and highly dilated … typical of an individual under the influence of a stimulant narcotic.” It’s not clear if he was allegedly taking an illegal substance.
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McLeod — a former chairman of the Charleston Democratic Party who unsuccessfully ran for governor in 2010 — is now facing misdemeanor disorderly conduct charges.
Following the release of the arrest footage, the South Carolina Democratic Party leadership is urging him to withdraw from the race.
“After reviewing the transcript of the dash cam footage from his recent arrest, it is clear that Mr. McLeod is navigating profound challenges and should focus on his mental and emotional well-being instead of a campaign for governor,” the chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party, Christale Spain, said in a statement this week. “We offer him compassion and pray he finds the support he needs.”
McLeod’s campaign has not yet commented, though the embattled candidate recently described his arrest as “unlawful” during an interview announcing his candidacy.
“The only thing I’d ask the voters is to please give me a little bit of grace and know that long before we go to Election Day, they’ll know exactly what happened,” he told The Post.
“And when they learn what happened around my unlawful arrest, it will be a reason why I absolutely need to be our state’s governor,” he said. McLeod further claimed that he was only exercising his “God-given, constitutional right to be in a public place” when he was arrested.