A security guard at the Gracewood hospital has been arrested for impersonating an officer and simple battery after a videotaped confrontation with citizen journalists.
Michael Tarrant, 55, is shown screaming at the cameraman as the First-Amendment auditor tries to film on the public sidewalk Sept. 20 outside East Central Regional Hospital on Myrtle Avenue in Richmond County. The hospital also has a post office inside, which is mentioned in videos below.
“You need to leave. You are on private property, violating HIPAA law,” he said. “This is a hospital. You cannot videotape at this hospital. You must leave. Make sure you put that on there, so when the feds come for you, you will understand that you cannot violate HIPAA law.”
In several videos filmed by Russ Pickron with Georgia Transparency and Ben Newsome with Georgia Constitution Media, Tarrant repeatedly demanded the men leave and ultimately pushed Pickron as several Richmond County deputies were present.
At one point, Tarrant threatens to arrest Pickron, claiming he also works as a police officer in Riverdale, Georgia. On his video, the citizen journalist says he contacted the agency and was told Tarrant does not currently work for them.
An investigation by the sheriff’s office led to Tarrant’s arrest on Friday for felony impersonating a police officer or public employee and misdemeanor simple battery. He has been released on bond.
Several videos below show the dramatic confrontation and reaction by the sheriff’s office.
Greg Rickabaugh is the Jail Report contributor for The Augusta Press. Reach him at greg.rickabaugh@theaugustapress.com
