Former Football Player Files Lawsuit Over Wrongful Arrest

Barnwell, South Carolina, September 26, 2025

News Summary

Ty’Ran Dixon, a former football player at Newberry College, has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the Barnwell County Sheriff’s Office. After spending over two months in jail for a murder he did not commit, Dixon’s lawsuit alleges critical failures in the investigation that led to his wrongful arrest. Despite evidence suggesting he was not involved, law enforcement pursued Dixon while ignoring information about the real suspect. This ongoing case highlights serious concerns about law enforcement practices and the risk of wrongful convictions.

Barnwell, South Carolina – Ty’Ran Dixon, a former Newberry College football player, has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the Barnwell County Sheriff’s Office and its Sheriff Steven Griffith after spending over two months in jail for a murder he did not commit. Dixon’s lawsuit claims significant failures in the investigation led to his wrongful arrest and subsequent incarceration.

In August 2024, Dixon was arrested for a murder that occurred in October 2023. He spent 67 days in jail despite initial evidence suggesting he was not involved in the crime. In his lawsuit, Dixon alleges that within 12 hours of the murder, Sheriff Griffith received a text message identifying the actual suspect, Ty’Ren Dickson, who was described as significantly lighter than Dixon. This critical piece of information included the correct spelling of the suspect’s name and links to his social media accounts, yet law enforcement did not apprehend the real suspect until over 14 months later.

The ongoing investigation into Dixon’s wrongful arrest has raised serious questions about law enforcement practices and potential miscarriages of justice. Further complicating matters, emails have surfaced indicating that law enforcement officials considered confirming Dixon’s identity with a witness but ultimately did not pursue this avenue. Nine days after a warrant for Dixon’s arrest was issued, investigators began to question the accuracy of their identification.

This lawsuit marks the second time Dixon has taken legal action against the Barnwell County Sheriff’s Office. His claim highlights critical errors in how the investigation was conducted, contributing to what he terms a “miscarriage of justice.” The Barnwell County Sheriff’s Office has not publicly commented on this federal complaint, but they have denied allegations in a separate state lawsuit, asserting that any mistakes made were not done with malice.

In addition to Dixon’s case, Newberry College has recently made headlines for extending the contract of its football coach, Todd Knight, through 2031, despite the team experiencing two consecutive losing seasons. Newberry’s football team is scheduled to start its upcoming season against UVA Wise on September 6, 2025.

Ty’Ran Dixon’s case sheds light on larger issues within law enforcement and the risks associated with wrongful convictions. As Dixon seeks redress for the ordeal he endured, it underscores the necessity for reforms in investigative procedures to prevent such incidents from recurring in the future.

Frequently Asked Questions

Key Features of the Article:

• Ty’Ran Dixon spent 67 days in jail for a crime he did not commit.
• Dixon filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Barnwell County law enforcement officials.
• Evidence pointed to a different suspect shortly after the murder occurred.
• This is Dixon’s second lawsuit concerning his wrongful arrest.
• Newberry College football coach received a contract extension amid a losing streak.

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

HERE Resources

Former Football Player Files Lawsuit After Wrongful Imprisonment
Former Newberry College Player Files Civil Rights Lawsuit
Former Football Player Sues for Wrongful Imprisonment
Former Athlete Files Civil Rights Lawsuit Over Wrongful Imprisonment

Additional Resources

• WISTV: Former Newberry College football player files second lawsuit over wrongful arrest
• Wikipedia: Wrongful_conviction
• Newberry Observer: Newberry College Hall of Fame Spotlight
• Google Search: Newberry College football history
• The State: Latest news on NFL
• Google Scholar: Law enforcement practices
• WLTX: Newberry College football updates
• Encyclopedia Britannica: College football
• NFL Draft Diamonds: Newberry College news
• Google News: Newberry College football

Author: STAFF HERE NEWBERRY

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