A small community in Orangeburg County,
population 500, lies some 50 miles northwest of Charleston.
Their police department consists of one police officer, the Police Chief.
This is the 4th police officer in the last year that the town council has hired.
The present chief, Ricky Combs, was hired by Eutawville after he had been released from light duty at the Elloree Police Dept. where he had been employed for several years. Prior to that, he had been terminated from the Orangeburg Co. Sheriff's Dept. Combs was employed by the Sheriff's office for 6 years, and was terminated for 'violating that agency's policies, but not for misconduct.' Such is the wording of the personnel document. That could mean anything from substandard performance to sleeping on duty.
Every time a police officer leaves a department, the SC Criminal Justice Academy is notified as to their reasons, whether it be a transfer or termination. Believe it or not, that information is accessible under the FOI act. With that, the cops in SC have a right to be a tad paranoid about their every move.
Story goes that on May, 2, Bernard Bailey, 54 years of age and a former corrections officer, went to Eutawville town hall with a traffic ticket belonging to his daughter. It is said that his intent was to get the court date changed. Combs and Bailey came face to face in the parking lot. The only fact that was released is that Bailey was shot 3 times by Combs. No other information was given. Was Bailey armed, you ask? The consensus was that he was not, and the Orangeburg Co. Sheriff's Dept. incident report was a colossal joke. How can anyone justify a written incident report that contains one sentence? As with all officer involved shootings in SC, the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) handles the investigation. I'm guessing Orangeburg Co. figured that it was merely "an assist" call and that's all they needed to write. A perfectly good example of a bad report. You know, "Saw drunk. Arrested same." So short. So wrong.
What is remarkably refreshing is that this has been a rather subdued investigation and there have been no ugly outcries of racism and no finger pointing. Yes, Bailey is black and Combs is white. Bailey's family has asked everyone to remain calm and not to jump to conclusions. A recent town hall meeting that attracted over 500 people and the NAACP asked for witnesses to come forward and for everyone to cooperate fully with law enforcement. While the SC State Law Enforcement Division was already in the midst of investigating this shooting, the Feds have now thrown their hat in the ring. The US Attorney's office and the FBI confirmed it today. Clearly, this means the feds wouldn't be poking their nose in to a local matter if there wasn't more than just a hint of a civil rights violation. Either that, or somebody's got a little juice.
A Facebook page for Bailey has been set up, seeking comments and condolences. The FB page also has a link to an on line petition. The author of the petition, who has an annoying question mark addiction, seeks to bring notice to the US Congress for a federal investigation. Last count for signatures on the petition was about 1400. Well the Feds are here so hold the phone!
This Facebook page has also drawn the attention of a recent nightmarish pain-in-the-ass that goes by the name of Tyler Williams. If you recall, Williams is the uncle of one Bobby Gadsden who was shot and killed by a homeowner because he was in the process of burglarizing his home. Uncle Tyler seeks to compare this incident with his own experience against the Castle Doctrine. Maybe he thinks that he can get the attention of the Feds while they're in town. Uncle Tyler changes the story every time he tells it and he is not someone I'd ever want as an ally. This is what Williams posted on the FB wall for Bernard Bailey -
From Tyler Williams, the uncle of Bobby L. Gadsden Jr. who was shot in the back of his head while unarmed & fleeing a home, that he was allegdly given access to by the home owner's (also shooter) son in Moncks Corner, SC on 4/13/2011. "Authorities" deemed it justifiable with no questions asked, even after many of the lies they told to cover-up this murder & mislead the public, were exposed with crime scene photos. Such as him wearing a mask, holding a shot gun or even being shot coming down the stairs. My families' heart felt condolences & prayers go out to the Bailey family for your tragic loss! We pray that justice be served not only for my nephew & Mr. Bailey but for all those unjustifiably murdered in SC & considered "justified" by those who misappropriate & abuse the use of the Castle Doctrine.
If you read my other posts; Homeowner Shoots Burglar, The Castle Doctrine Goes on Trial, Give it up Already!, One More Thing..., you'll know that Tyler Williams is not your ordinary loud-mouthed, bigoted moron looking for some easy money. No, he's a bothersome, blood sucking tick! He's like a wound that won't heal. He is more than tactless - if that's possible. The man has no shame. I wouldn't be surprised if he tries riding on the coat tails of this incident just to get his face in front of a camera again.
I don't profess to have an opinion one way or another on this particular shooting. But I have to admit, it ain't lookin' so good for Combs.
5 comments:
I almost couldn't believe the content of the Orangeburg County SD report. Almost. At my former department officers have previously been instructed not to put details in the narrative of the initial report. They are instead instructed to put them in a 'supplement' narrative, which is not as easily accessible to the public and the press.
Thanks for the enlightenment. B&R. I had no idea. Pretty sneaky, but often necessary, I'm sure.
While underhanded, it does serve to keep the local 'journalists' from reporting details of crimes that LE might need to hold close to the vest for investigative purposes. With one or two exceptions, the local media doesn't do 'investigative' reporting anymore. They simply flood governments with FOIA requests and write their stories based on the results, with no concern for the true details.
I kept up with the Bobby Gadsden shooting and I agree with you 100% that Uncle Tyler is tactless and is just looking for his 15 minutes of fame. I have been checking this story often to see what will come of it. I can't believe almost a month later that there have been NO new reports about this incident. I wonder if SLED will ever make an official statement. I'm also wondering if they are letting all the racial tension cool down before they conclude that a white officer killed a black man without just cause.
I don't want to speculate one way or another on this one because I wasn't there and don't know all the facts. My opinion, and that's what it is at this point, is that Combs most probably used deadly force unnecessarily. If that is indeed the case, then I believe the feds are going to take the glory and Combs could go through the federal system. Which might be the appropriate avenue to take IF it is indeed a civil rights violation.
But, in the meantime, we wait.
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