The Saluda County Solicitor’s office released a statement Friday in regards to Yafari “Shai” Werts cocaine arrest detailing their experience through the case and again confirming that the charge has been dropped.

“The decision to dismiss this charge was made prior to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) completing their drug analysis of the substance collected,” the statement reads. “On August 8, 2019, SLED received the substance and completed the drug analysis. The forensic scientist determined that no controlled substance was detected.”

In the statement, the office said that they received the footage on Wednesday, Aug. 7 and after thorough review decided to drop the charge.

“The charge lacks prosecutorial merit and the evidence is insufficient for the State to proceed,” the statement reads. “The Solicitor’s Office has begun the expungement process to have this charge removed from the system to ensure that this arrest and charge does not create a criminal history for Werts.”

Werts has been cleared from suspension and has already returned to practicing with Georgia Southern. 

The full statement can be viewed below.

McClain Baxley, The George-Anne Editor-in-Chief, gaeditor@georgiasouthern.edu