Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree is circling the wagons yet again, refusing to release bodycam footage and continuing to show a pattern of behavior of someone who believes the law does not apply to him or his office.
This latest attempt to cover up a situation that could cast the Sheriff’s Office in a dim light is the altercation that occurred on March 25 at Augusta Common between Richmond County Sgt. Ty Hester and Burke County Sgt. Allen Crispin.
According to a release from the RCSO, Crispin attempted to report what he believed might be a child abuse situation, and, ultimately, it was Crispin who was padded off to jail in handcuffs on a charge of disorderly conduct.
Such a charge is a nasty smear on anyone’s record, but for an law officer like Crispin, it could be career altering.
If Crispin did become verbally abusive to Hester to the degree that an arrest was necessary, then we certainly do not need someone of that caliber walking the streets with a badge and gun; but if he is innocent, then the Sheriff’s Office should drop the charge and issue an apology.
All of this could be settled immediately because bodycam footage of the encounter exists, yet Roundtree is steadfastly refusing to release the tapes, citing that it is an ongoing investigation and also citing privacy concerns.
O.C.G.A. §50-18-72(A)(26.2) does not exempt video recordings made by law enforcement unless they are taken in a place where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy and there is no pending investigation and this particular altercation took place on public property where they is no presumption of privacy.
This is not a murder investigation where the untimely release of information could taint a jury pool; we’re talking about a misdemeanor arrest.
Considering that Roundtree has had an ongoing feud with Burke County Sheriff Alfonzo Williams for years, we can bet the farm that if the recording showed Crispin acting abusive towards Hester, the Sheriff would be broadcasting the tapes for the world to see.
By not releasing the footage, Roundtree is definitely inferring to the reasonable person that his deputy acted unprofessionally and Crispin’s arrest was not warranted.
This has become a pattern of behavior for Roundtree who is already being sued by The Augusta Press for refusing to turn over bodycam footage from last May when officers were called to the home of Chief Assistant Solicitor Geoffrey Alls on a report of domestic violence.
In fact, Roundtree routinely attempts to find ways to subvert the open records law and, in doing so, thumbs his nose at the citizens who pay his salary.
However, judges are beginning to show disdain for, and have issued fines to, public officials who attempt to protect their fiefdoms by covering up and refusing to release information on a whim. This is likely to be the case, should a lawsuit be filed in this current matter.
The sheriff and the community would be better served if Roundtree would simply follow the law and release the tapes.
