Taser misuse leads to arrest of Richmond County jailer; sheriff vows transparency

Jailer Omar Riley

Date: February 04, 2025

A jailer with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office has been fired after using a taser on an inmate at the Charles B. Webster Detention Center.

On Friday, around 5:10 p.m., Jailer Omar Riley instructed an inmate to end his phone call. When the inmate refused, saying he had two minutes left, Riley used his taser, violating the department’s policies on the use of force.

After a thorough investigation, Chief Deputy Robert Sams terminated Riley’s employment. The 2019 hire was also arrested and charged with misdemeanor battery and felony violation of his oath of office. He was taken into custody at the Charles B. Webster Detention Center.

“The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office takes all incidents of misconduct seriously. We are committed to maintaining transparency, accountability, and the highest standards of professionalism in law enforcement,” said Sheriff Brantley. “While this is an unfortunate situation, it should not overshadow the exceptional work performed daily by the vast majority of our deputies and staff who serve and protect Richmond County with honor.”

The Sheriff’s Office reaffirmed its commitment to the community, emphasizing that the department is dedicated to serving with fairness, respect, and integrity.

The sheriff said his agency is committed to the citizens of Richmond County and will continue to hold themselves to the highest standards of ethics and professionalism.

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The Author

Greg Rickabaugh is an award-winning crime reporter in the Augusta-Aiken area with experience writing for The Augusta Chronicle and serving as publisher of The Jail Report. He also owns AugustaCrime.com. Rickabaugh is a 1994 graduate of the University of South Carolina and has appeared on several crime documentaries on the Investigation Discovery channel. He is married with two daughters.

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