SHIELDS OF SHAME | CHEROKEE COUNTY INVESTIGATION | IA 2024-00003
A Traffic Crash, an Allegation of Bias, and an Internal Affairs Investigation
A January 14, 2024 collision near Union Hill Road and Union Hill Trail in Cherokee County, Georgia, led to a complaint against Cherokee Sheriff’s Office Corporal Robert Reilly. The complainant, Eli Lindsey, disputed the deputy’s determination of fault and questioned whether racial bias or a Masonic symbol displayed on another driver’s vehicle influenced the investigation.
Official finding: The Cherokee Sheriff’s Office investigated the complaint and exonerated Reilly. That finding is central to this story. The records document allegations, not a sustained finding of discriminatory conduct.
What the complaint alleged
According to a January 23, 2024 memorandum by Sergeant M. Wells, Lindsey called on January 18 about the January 14 collision. He alleged that Reilly had found him at fault even though Lindsey believed the other motorist was driving too slowly. Lindsey said he was attempting to pass on the right in a turn lane. He also described Masonic stickers on the other vehicle and raised concerns about race, noting that he was Black while Reilly and the other driver were white. These statements are the complainant’s allegations, not independently established facts.
What investigators reviewed
Captain Kim Thompson’s Office of Professional Standards report states that investigators interviewed Reilly on February 1, 2024 and reviewed Axon body camera and in-car recordings, physical evidence and witness accounts. According to the report, Reilly described two vehicles, with the first driver identified as Brian Walters. Walters reportedly said Lindsey was close behind his vehicle and attempted to pass on the right while he was turning left. The report says investigators determined Lindsey was following too closely and making an improper pass.
The department’s written conclusion says Reilly was respectful and followed Cherokee Sheriff’s Office policies and procedures. The complaint was classified as exonerated, meaning investigators found that the incident occurred but did not violate agency policy or procedure. This is the agency’s finding, not a separate independent adjudication.
Watch the video
Watch the supplied YouTube recording alongside the written investigative findings. The embedded video begins at the timestamp provided.
Inside the evidence file
The 11-page file includes the complaint form, supervisor memorandum, internal investigation narrative, acknowledgment of findings, crash-report pages withheld or redacted, and an internal investigation warning signed by Reilly. The redacted crash report limits independent review of the original crash paperwork.
OPEN FULL INTERNAL AFFAIRS FILE (PDF)
What is the Garrity warning?
The document advises Reilly of the conditions of questioning during an official internal investigation, including that refusal to answer job-related questions may result in departmental charges and that compelled answers are subject to protections against their use in subsequent criminal proceedings. Receiving this warning does not itself establish wrongdoing.
Open full-size Garrity warning in new tab
Why the records matter
A public complaint and an exoneration are not interchangeable. Here the public record shows both the allegations made and the department’s stated reasons for clearing Reilly. Publishing the source documents lets readers examine how the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office reached its conclusion.
For information about how the agency accepts and reviews complaints, visit the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office Office of Professional Standards.
Support independent records-based reporting
Shields of Shame publishes investigative records, video evidence and documented outcomes so the public can evaluate police accountability for itself. Support the work and explore additional case materials through the Shields of Shame membership program.
Membership: $5.99 | Explore the Shields of Shame Vault for additional investigations and evidence archives.
Editorial note: Allegations are not findings of misconduct. The Cherokee Sheriff’s Office exonerated Corporal Reilly in IA 2024-00003. Source: agency investigative records supplied to Shields of Shame. Video content is presented as supplied and has not been independently transcribed for this article.