SLED closes investigation in NADPS assault case 11/21/2008 9:18 PM By KAREN DAILY Staff writer
State agents say the victim claiming a North Augusta Department of Public Safety officer used his duty weapon to hit him in the mouth is unwilling to cooperate with their investigation, and no criminal charges will be filed.
Lt. Robbie Bell may still face disciplinary action from the City of North Augusta, but on Friday City Administrator Sam Bennett said officials would not give the details on action taken, if any, until after the first of the week.
State agents only recently concluded their investigation.
"It's closed because of the lack of cooperation," said Jennifer Timmons, a spokesperson for SLED. "Our hands are tied."
The allegations against Bell surfaced in late September, when North Augusta Chief T. Lee Wetherington said he received a complaint from an area attorney.
Wetherington said he first learned about the claim on Sept. 29. The incident alleged occurred in June 2007, officials say.
The chief told agents he received a letter from Augusta attorney John P. Baston who said he was representing Joseph Williams Jr.
Williams claims he was the passenger in a vehicle involved in a chase in June 2007 that was stopped by North Augusta Public Safety. He said Bell hit him in the mouth with a gun and caused him extensive dental work. Baston initially offered a settlement of $40,000, SLED agents reports.
During the SLED investigation, Wetherington told investigators he contacted Bell's supervisor, Capt. Billy Luckey, to review the paperwork required when an officer uses force. The chief said he discovered none had been filed, which means the in-car video from that evening was not archived either.
Bell admitted to state agents that he did hit Williams but claims that he thought the suspect had a gun. He said he intended to strike the passenger in the chest to get him to raise his hands, and instead he struck him in the face, according to the report.
Bell stated that he could not recall if he wrote a use of force report, according to SLED.
City officials did not say if Luckey or Bell face disciplinary action for neglecting required paperwork.
Agents interviewed other officers reportedly involved in the arrest and learned additional paperwork required when first aid is rendered was also neglected.
A Freedom of Information request was filed with the City of North Augusta to make public the action taken against the officers involved.
That information has yet to be made public.
Contact Karen Daily at kdaily@aikenstandard.com
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