The tax assessor for Edgefield County was arrested this month after allegedly striking a woman who came to his office seeking information about her recently purchased home.
Benjamin “Gerry” Coleman, 75, was charged Dec. 2 with third-degree assault and battery and booked into the Edgefield County Detention Center, according to police. He later resigned.
The alleged assault occurred around noon on Nov. 26, when 51-year-old Christie Culbreath entered the Tax Assessor’s Office to ask questions about her property. According to an Edgefield Police Department incident report, Culbreath told officers that Coleman became agitated during their discussion and struck her.
Police said Culbreath showed them a cellphone video she recorded of the encounter. The video, according to the report, shows the two talking about the property before the exchange escalates. Coleman is seen asking Culbreath to leave, and as she turns to go and speaks again, he moves toward her and hits her, the report states. The recording ends immediately after the alleged strike.
A friend of Culbreath said she suffered a black eye and sought treatment at a local hospital. The friend also said Culbreath has retained an attorney.
Police attempted to locate Coleman at the office shortly after the report was filed, but staff told officers he had already left for home in his truck. Investigators later secured a warrant for his arrest.
County Administrator David Caddell said Coleman was asked to come in to discuss the incident, and that is when he gave his resignation. Coleman had worked as tax assessor for over a decade.
Caddell said office workers claimed that Coleman never made contact with the victim, only her phone. “That’s still unacceptable,” the county administrator said.
The Edgefield County Tax Assessor’s Office is responsible for appraising real property and manufactured homes for tax purposes, conducting mandated reassessments, processing appeals and exemptions, and handling related administrative matters.
