AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) - A Georgia deputy has been indicted on assault charges after he hit another deputy with a flashlight, drawing complaints from the county sheriff that the prosecution is unjustified.
Richmond County Deputy Brandon Keathley turned himself in on Wednesday after he was indicted Tuesday for aggravated assault and aggravated assault on a police officer. The latter charge carries a mandatory prison sentence of at least five years.
Keathley was released without being required to post an upfront cash bail. Sheriff Richard Roundtree, who criticized the prosecution of the case as “highly irregular,” said Keathley is on paid leave pending trial, with his police powers suspended.
Keathley is accused of hitting former Deputy Nicholas Nunes, who arrived at a shooting scene on Feb. 7 and tried to take over from Keathley administering first aid to the victim. Officials say Keathley then hit Nunes in the head with a flashlight.
Roundtree has said the incident was embarrassing but happened in the “heat of the moment.” Keathley was suspended 30 days without pay but resumed his duties afterward. Roundtree also issued a written reprimand to Nunes, who resigned from the department and later joined the Arizona State Patrol.
The shooting victim, 17-year-old DeAngelo Burns, died. Another teen, 16-year-old Taylor Jaquavious, has pleaded not guilty to adult murder charges in the shooting.
Roundtree said his discipline was sufficient and blasted Richmond County District Attorney Natalie Paine for prosecuting the case.
“At no time was the sheriff contacted by the district’s attorney’s office regarding this highly irregular investigation,” Roundtree said in a statement Wednesday. “One can only speculate as to why the district attorney chose this path but it could lead some to assume that the sheriff’s political philosophy may have attributed to this extremely unorthodox approach into a criminal investigation.”
Paine defended her actions, saying Keathley got required legal notice and that a first grand jury recommended the charge and a second grand jury proceeded with the indictment, as required under Georgia law providing special protections to law enforcement officers.
“While it is unfortunate that the sheriff of Richmond County takes issue with the citizens of Richmond County reviewing the conduct of his officers, it is shameful to suggest that this was politically motivated,” Paine said in a statement.
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