Sumter Police Department Deputy Chief Holston arrested in Aiken County

Sumter Police Department's deputy chief has been placed on administrative leave after he was arrested in Aiken County on Thursday for allegedly attempting to contact a person he was advised by another law enforcement officer not to contact.

According to a warrant issued by South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, Deputy Chief Alvin Asa Holston, 49, is accused of "the crime of unlawful communication by use of telephone to contact [the victim] repeatedly after being advised by an Aiken Department of Public Safety patrol officer to have no further contact with the victim on Sept. 7, 2017."

Holston was arrested by SLED on Thursday and charged with unlawful communication after he attempted to contact the victim via phone calls, text messages and Facebook messages approximately 15 times, according to the warrant.

Holston also allegedly told investigators he used a phone "spoofing application" on his cellphone to contact the victim at least once.

Neither the warrant from SLED nor a news release from Sumter Police Department mention the context of the incident.

Holston, who has been with the police department since 1991, was booked at Aiken County Detention Center and later released on a personal recognizance bond of $1,087.50, according to Aiken County Second Judicial Circuit Public Index.

Sumter city and police officials were made aware of the investigation on Thursday, according to a release from Sumter Police Department.

Aiken Department of Public Safety requested that SLED investigate the case.

According to Tonyia McGirt, public information officer for the Sumter Police Department, administrative leave can be either paid or unpaid but said she could not comment on which Holston was placed. She said the department will have no further comment while the investigation is underway.