The Burke County sergeant who was arrested while attending an Augusta Hispanic festival on Saturday claims he was injured while in custody.
Off-duty Sgt. Allen Crispin says he was the victim of “unlawful acts” after trying to report child abuse he witnessed at the Latin Fest 2023. He went to jail for disorderly conduct after a confrontation with RCSO Sgt. Ty Hester, authorities said.
An earlier press release from BCSO Capt. Jimmy Wylds says Crispin was released shortly after his arrest and required treatment for numbness in both hands and shoulders.
For their part, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office released this statement on Monday afternoon:
“On March 25, 2023, at approximately 8:15 pm while working a special duty event at the Augusta Common, Richmond County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Ty Hester was approached by an unknown male who was later identified as Sgt. Allen Crispin of the Burke County Sheriff’s Office. Sgt. Crispin advised Sgt. Hester that a child was slapped by an unknown male who was accompanied by an unknown female. Sgt. Crispin gave no description other than the child was in a stroller. Sgt. Hester recalled that a few minutes prior, he observed a couple with a child in a stroller, but the child was not crying, and the couple appeared to be having a normal conversation. Sgt. Hester pointed out the couple and child to Sgt. Crispin, and Sgt. Crispin was uncertain whether this was the same couple and child. Sgt. Crispin then returned to the event.
“At approximately 8:45 pm, Sgt. Crispin approached Sgt. Hester a second time in an aggressive manner and called him a derogatory name. Sgt. Hester tried to verbally deescalate the situation advising Sgt. Crispin to continue walking and leave the area. Sgt. Crispin continued to be loud and uncooperative by not leaving and using more profanity. Sgt. Hester repeatedly instructed Sgt. Crispin to stop using profanity in front of families attending the event and to leave the area. After multiple times of refusing Sgt. Hester’s request, Sgt. Crispin was arrested and charged with Disorderly Conduct.
“This incident will follow the same course as any other criminal investigation, and no other information will be provided at this time.”
The sheriff’s office also released Crispin’s mugshot and booking information, which says he is 31 years old, lives in North Augusta and was released on his own recognizance.
In a Facebook post on Sunday, Crispin said he was “staying positive despite my physical injuries that I sustained when in custody of the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.” He also addressed negative comments.
“I stand by righteousness despite the unlawful acts against me,” he said. “I’m sure there will be false narratives but I know that I’m in good hands and that I have all of the proof and support that I’ll need to counter that, in terms of witnesses and videos of the incident.”
Contacted on Monday, Crispin confirmed that his family has videos of the confrontation, but he declined to release them.
“I’m going to choose to hold onto what videos I do have for now,” he said. “It will all come out, as needed and with time.”
In Burke County, Capt. Wylds said his office maintains a working relationship with Richmond County and simply released a statement on the arrest to be transparent. He says Crispin called his supervisor “as he was being arrested.” He said Crispin denies allegations that he had been drinking before his arrest.
“If our guy did something wrong, we will get to the bottom of it,” Capt. Wylds said.
