Injury that Needed 8 Surgeries, Leg Amputation Hasn't Stopped S.C. Deputy

Lt. Nathan Clark stands tall in his York County Sheriff’s Office uniform — and wears two shoes to do it.

Then he pulls up his left pants leg at the bottom. One of those shoes is at the end of a prosthetic leg that starts below the knee.

His lower leg and foot were amputated in February 2022 — a year and a half after he broke both lower leg bones chasing a suspect. Even after eight surgeries in the 18 months after his injury, the leg never healed properly, Clark said.

The injuries haven’t stopped him. Clark came back to work in late 2022. He helped run a three-day search for a missing swimmer in Lake Wylie earlier this summer. In warm weather, he’s often at the lake before the sun comes up and leaves after it has set. He commands 21 men and women deputies who work around York County as school resource officers.

“I want to show that this did not beat me physically, did not beat me mentally,” said the 43-year-old Clark.

Thankful to come back and serve

Clark, married with two daughters, has been a deputy for 20 years. He started at 23 as a patrol officer, then worked his way up to sergeant.

He worked with K-9 groups that ran miles after suspects and volunteered for SWAT.

He led a special group of deputies who take suspects into custody when he broke his leg on June 30, 2020.

Deputies were on Sutton Springs Road outside York that day seeking a suspect named Johnny Michael Benfield on several warrants including failure to stop for blue lights and a drug charge.

Benfield ran out of a house across the road and into some woods, Clark said. Clark chased Benfield on foot across the road, over a guardrail, and then down an embankment. At the bottom of the embankment Clark’s leg snagged on tree debris. Both the tibia and fibula were broken.

Benfield continued to run but was caught soon afterward by other deputies.

Clark was in a wheelchair, surrounded by deputies, in court a year-plus later in September 2021. Benfield was sentenced to 21 years in prison for his crimes from that incident and other charges from before and after the chase.

After that Clark wanted to get back into the only job he’s ever had — helping people.

“I felt like I could come back,” Clark said. “I talked to others who were amputees. I knew there would be modifications, but I had to do it.”

In September 2022 after he had the amputation and received a prosthetic, doctors sent an official letter to the sheriff’s office stating Clark could return to work without restrictions. Clark had the letter framed. It remains on his office wall to this day.

York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson praised Clark’s guts to come back to work.

“Sgt. Clark’s determination in the face of adversity is a testament to his character that we should all appreciate and strive for,” Tolson said. “We are all proud of him for working so hard to bring himself back to full duty to do what he loves — serve his community.”

Tolson is the one who promoted Clark to lieutenant, and put him in charge of the lake unit and school deputies.

Clark worked with the late sheriff detective Mike Doty, who was killed in 2018 when a gunman fatally shot Doty and wounded three others during a SWAT incident. Mike Doty’s twin brother, Chris, is a deputy, too, and roomed with Clark when both were at the South Carolina police academy 20 years ago.

Chris Doty said he’s proud of Clark’s courage, determination and attitude to stay working after his injury. His twin brother, Mike, would be proud, too.

“Mike would have been equally impressed with his response to the situation, and dedication to get back to doing the job Nathan has committed his life and body to,” Chris Doty said.

Work continues — lake safety and a sense of humor

Clark has more of an administrative job now than he did when he was a hard charger on patrol and with special operations, handling the budget for his units and supervising people. He’s also done motivational speaking to new recruits. He is not shy about the prosthesis — it’s now a part of him.

“I’m thankful to be able to help people,” Clark said. “This job — it’s all I have ever done.”

When sheriff’s office public information officer Trent Faris produced a public service announcement video about safety on Lake Wylie last year — Clark was the star.

The co-star? His prosthetic leg.

The short video showed what equipment is needed for water safety. At the end of the clip, Clark reminds people “don’t forget your sunscreen” as he sprays his right leg.

Clark then pulled his prosthetic left leg in front of the camera. He said with a straight face as he sprayed the plastic and metal leg with lubricant: “And if you need it — your WD-40.”

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