Drunken Teen Mistaken for Dead on Edisto

Dorchester County deputies say a 19-year-old Cottageville man was floating face-down in the Edisto River, causing alarm on July 15. 

According to the incident report, deputies approached the man in their boat and shouted commands. By the time they reached him, William Albert Miller finally raised his head out of the water, gasped for air and then fell back face first into the water. Deputies pulled him into the boat. 

Deputies allege that Miller was disoriented and "very intoxicated." He was later arrested for public drunkeness and liquor law violations. Miller allegedly had a .08 blood alcohol level, which is legally intoxicated, according to the report. 

In the report, Miller allegedly told deputies that all he remembered was going to sleep and then waking up in handcuffs on the Jelico boat landing.