A former RCSO Deputy of the Year who was forced to resign after accusations he beat a handcuffed suspect is suing the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office for racial discrimination.
Quincy J. Cannon filed suit in U.S. District Court earlier this month, saying his case was handled differently by the sheriff’s office because he is Black.
The 2021 Deputy of the Year and a former Marine, Cannon got a right-to-sue letter from the EEOC after he left the sheriff’s office in December 2022 and was not allowed to return despite the case being dismissed.
Cannon and two other deputies had responded the month earlier to reports of suspect Vernon Cratic Jr. shooting a fellow officer and continuing to shoot, according to prior reports.
Cratic, who has a history of arrests for violence, was an “extremely combative individual” who barricaded himself in a Bungalow Road home for hours, according to prior reports. He was indicted on 25 counts last year, including aggravated battery, for shooting Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Cole in the face, and remains in jail awaiting trial.
Cannon’s lawsuit says he was questioned about the arrest then sent back to work. But on Dec. 15, 2022, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced it was arresting him and two other deputies involved, Andrew Acosta and Robert Wilson, for battery and violating their oaths of office. Acosta, who is Hispanic, was allowed to return to the force while Wilson, who is white, was not. Wilson now works in security.
The GBI investigation revealed Cratic had been struck in the face and stomach while he was handcuffed in a sheriff’s office elevator, as well as slammed against an exterior wall of a sheriff’s office building, according to a GBI news release.
The deputies were arrested, released on bond and placed on paid leave. The incident was reported to the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training or POST Council, which certifies Georgia law enforcement officers.
On Dec. 20, 2022, Cannon said the sheriff’s chief deputy told him to resign or be fired, so he resigned, but later was told to submit a voluntary letter of resignation, according to the lawsuit. Then last May, a Richmond County grand jury declined to indict the three deputies. Cannon said he was able to find work in Wrens, but at lower pay.
Cannon said while working for the sheriff’s office, White deputies were treated better than him, particularly when it came to internal investigations, GBI investigations and reports to POST.
He cites a handful of deputy conduct cases in support, all of which took place before his, involving white deputies. (Story continues below.)
They included Ty Dailey, accused of beating a handcuffed suspect in October 2022, but not filing a use of force report until December 2022;
- Johnny Atkinson, accused of a May 2022 incident involving a handcuffed suspect. Cannon’s suit said Atkinson was subsequently promoted to investigator.
- Richard Parker, accused in a February 2022 incident and inappropriately cleared.
- Amanda Donald, accused in a July 2021 incident but never investigated.
- Brandon Keathley, the deputy accused of assaulting a fellow deputy with a flashlight in 2020. Keathley was later indicted for aggravated assault but remains on paid leave awaiting trial. Judge Jesse Stone recently denied Keathley’s motion to dismiss his indictment.
Cannon seeks back pay, benefits and wages, damages for emotional distress, punitive damages, front pay, attorney fees and more.
