SUMTER, S.C. (AP) -- Investigators say nine people arrested in a drug bust in Sumter County include the county sheriff's son.

Authorities said the six-month investigation culminated with the arrests this week near Rembert.

One of the people taken into custody was 27-year-old Marvin English, the son of Sumter County Sheriff Anthony Dennis. Arrest warrants say an informant bought crack from English four times in September and October.

Chief Deputy Hampton Gardner says the sheriff knew his son was being investigated a few months ago, but did not intervene.

English is charged with four counts of manufacturing and distributing cocaine and was released on bond Thursday.

His father didn't want to talk about the arrest, and it wasn't clear if English had an attorney.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)