Charleston Reporter

Cpl. Tiffani Crider of the North Charleston Police Department has been recognized for her exceptional work in solving a cold sexual assault case involving a special needs girl. The department announced that Cpl. Crider was named the "Employee of the Month" for December 2023 for her dedication and perseverance in bringing the perpetrator to justice.

According to the department, the case dates back to April 2018 when an 11-year-old special needs girl was sexually assaulted. Despite initial investigations, the case went cold. Two years later, in 2020, the same victim, now 13 years old, was assaulted again. Former investigations yielded no suspects, and the cases remained unsolved.

In 2019, Cpl. Crider took on the 2018 case and through meticulous investigation, identified Emeric Hamilton as a person of interest. Despite initial challenges, including a lack of concrete evidence, Cpl. Crider persisted in her pursuit of justice. She revisited the 2020 case and uncovered vital information that linked Hamilton to the crimes.

Cpl. Crider's efforts led to the discovery that Hamilton's DNA profile was in a law enforcement database. With a search warrant in hand, she obtained a DNA sample from Hamilton, which ultimately confirmed his involvement in the assaults. Hamilton was subsequently arrested and, on November 29, 2023, was found guilty of Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor 2nd Degree, receiving a 20-year prison sentence.

The North Charleston Police Department commended Cpl. Crider for her unwavering commitment and hard work in solving the case. A department spokesperson expressed pride in having Cpl. Crider as part of their team, stating, "Cpl. Crider’s outstanding dedication and hard work helped solve the case, and we are proud to have her as a member of our team."