BROOKS COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE
Inmate Stephen Styles
CRUELTY TO INMATES 5/30/2016 GBI case 09-0037-34-17
GBI Interview Sept 14, 2016
No image available for Proctor at this time. No need in looking at Proctor, she may be a bad cop but in the grand scheme of things we need to spend time on the real bad ones.
On Wednesday, September 14, 2016, at approximately 4:40 p.m., GBI SA JASON SEACRIST was located at the Brooks County Sheriff’s Office CID Annex, 1004 Holloway Drive, Quitman, Brooks County, Georgia, for the purpose of interviewing Brooks County Jail OFFICER TITANIA PROCTOR in regards to the present investigation.
It should be noted this is a general synopsis of the interview with OFFICER PROCTOR. For a detailed account of the interview in its entirety, refer to the recording associated with this summary (see attached). SA SEACRIST advised OFFICER PROCTOR that the interview was related to a criminal investigation and that her cooperation was voluntary. OFFICER PROCTOR confirmed that no one had instructed her that she was required to speak with SA SEACRIST.
OFFICER PROCTOR stated that she was willing to provide a voluntary statement. OFFICER PROCTOR essentially stated the following: OFFICER PROCTOR had been a JAILER at the Brooks County Jail for approximately three years. Prior to that, she had been a JAILER at the Lowndes County Jail for approximately six and a half years. In between those two jobs, OFFICER PROCTOR had taken a one year break.
On Thursday, September 8, 2016, OFFICER PROCTOR was in the main control room when Brooks County Jail OFFICER ANITA HILL mentioned that Brooks County Jail CAPTAIN SCOTT BOUTWELL and LT. COURTNEY GIDDENS were moving INMATE STEPHEN STYLES. OFFICER PROCTOR heard LT. GIDDENS call for Brooks County Jail OFFICER JIM PYLE. OFFICER PROCTOR then left main control to take care of another task and when she returned to main control, OFFICER HILL advised that OFFICER PROCTOR should assist CAPTAIN BOUTWELL, LT. GIDDENS, and OFFICER PYLE. When OFFICER PROCTOR arrived, she saw CAPTAIN BOUTWELL, LT. GIDDENS, OFFICER PYLE and INMATE STYLES on the ground. INMATE STYLES was handcuffed behind his back and was almost laid flat on the ground. CAPTAIN BOUTWELL was saying “stop resisting” and INMATE STYLES was saying “I’m not resisting”. OFFICER PROCTOR went towards the area where INMATE STYLES’ feet were. OFFICER PROCTOR then saw CAPTAIN BOUTWELL knee INMATE STYLEStwo times.
CAPTAIN BOUTWELL then said that INMATE STYLES had tried to spit on him. OFFICER PROCTOR asked CAPTAIN BOUTWELL what he wanted her to do, to which CAPTAIN BOUTWELL said to lay INMATE STYLES flat. OFFICER PROCTOR then moved one of INMATE STYLES’ legs, which flattened INMATE STYLES out on the ground. OFFICER PROCTOR noted that it took almost no effort to move INMATE STYLES’ leg as he was offering no resistance. OFFICER PROCTOR then assisted in moving INMATE STYLES to lockdown in A dorm. CAPTAIN BOUTWELL told LT. GIDDENS to write a report regarding the incident. After LT. GIDDENS left the jail, he called back and told the other officers involved that they also needed to write a report. OFFICER PROCTOR knew that her report would be reviewed by CAPTAIN BOUTWELL, so she left the part out about CAPTAIN BOUTWELL kneeing INMATE STYLES. OFFICER PROCTOR was fearful for her job because she was a single parent with three kids. OFFICER PROCTOR confirmed that the report in SA SEACRIST’S possession was the report she completed regarding the incident
OFFICER PROCTOR felt like CAPTAIN BOUTWELL kneeing INMATE STYLES was unnecessary. OFFICER PROCTOR could not tell where CAPTAIN BOUTWELL’S knee strikes were hitting INMATE STYLES. OFFICER PROCTOR could not see any active resistance by INMATE STYLES. LT. GIDDENS and OFFICER PYLE did not appear to be struggling with INMATE STYLES during the incident. OFFICER PROCTOR also noted though that she came at the very end of the incident and was not sure what had led up to it.
While OFFICER PROCTOR was assisting escorting INMATE STYLES to the lockdown cell, INMATE STYLES mentioned to look at his wrist, referring to the handcuffs. INMATE STYLES wanted the handcuffs off and told them that “y’all bout to lose your jobs”. Approximately twenty minutes after the incident, CAPTAIN BOUTWELL told OFFICER PROCTOR to go take the handcuffs off INMATE STYLES. In OFFICER PROCTOR’S experience, it is normal for the nurse to be sent to check on the inmate after a use of force incident. OFFICER PROCTOR did not believe that the nurse was sent to examine INMATE STYLES following this incident. INMATE STYLES did not get his mattress, blanket and other belongings back that same day. OFFICER PROCTOR was off the next three days, which were Friday, Saturday and Sunday. When OFFICER PROCTOR returned, INMATE STYLES had his mattress, blanket and other belongings. When asked if it was normal for an inmate not to have his mattress and blanket when moved to a lockdown cell, OFFICER PROCTOR stated it depended on the issue with the inmate.
OFFICER PROCTOR had no relationship with CAPTAIN BOUTWELL other than as an employee at the jail. OFFICER PROCTOR knew that CAPTAIN BOUTWELL was assigned to the Criminal Investigation Division of the Brooks County Sheriff’s Office before coming to work in the jail, but she had no association with CAPTAIN BOUTWELL. OFFICER PROCTOR had no relationship with INMATE STYLES or his family outside of the jail. OFFICER PROCTOR had seen INMATE STYLES around town, but did not associate with him. OFFICER PROCTOR noted that she had no issues with INMATE STYLES while he had been in jail.
The only time OFFICER PROCTOR had to use force against an inmate was approximately one month before today’s date. During this incident, OFFICER PROCTOR had to use pepper spray on INMATE JOHNATHAN VICKS because he had flooded the dorm with the toilet. OFFICER PROCTOR stated that INMATE VICKS was in the process of flooding the dorm with the toilet and was not responding to commands. OFFICER PROCTOR noted that she had not observed CAPTAIN BOUTWELL with inmates very often. Because of this, she knew of no other incidents of concern between CAPTAIN BOUTWELL and other inmates. This action concluded at approximately 5:22 p.m.
Timeline
September 8, 2016: Incident of alleged excessive force by Captain Scott Boutwell occurs at Brooks County Jail. Boutwell reportedly knees inmate Stephen Styles, who is handcuffed and held down by other officers.
September 14, 2016: Sheriff Mike Dewey requests the GBI to investigate the incident. GBI Special Agent Jason Seacrist is assigned to the case. Initial interviews and evidence review begin, including surveillance footage of the incident.
April 6, 2017: District Attorney Brad Shealy advises that due to conflicts within the DA’s office, the case will be handled by Alapaha Circuit DA Dick Perryman. The case is expected to be presented to the Grand Jury in October 2017.
October 3, 2017: ADA Patrick Warren, assigned to the case, states that the Grand Jury presentation is postponed due to a plea agreement with the defendants’ attorneys.
January 5, 2018: ADA Patrick Warren informs that victim Walter Eller had died in state prison, possibly from being stabbed. Negotiations for plea agreements with defendants continue.
April 10, 2018: Scott Boutwell pleads guilty to three counts of misdemeanor battery and is sentenced to probation. He surrenders his Georgia P.O.S.T. certification. Negotiations with other defendants are ongoing.
July 23, 2018: ADA Patrick Warren reports that all remaining defendants, except one, have agreed to plea deals.
October 15, 2018: ADA Warren dismisses the warrant against Rina Griffin, who agrees to cooperate in judicial proceedings. Scheduling for remaining defendants to accept their pleas is underway.
Brooks County Sheriff, Mike Dewey, GBI investigation, excessive force, Captain Scott Boutwell, Brooks County Jail, Jason Seacrist, surveillance footage, inmate Stephen Styles, restraint chair, jail officers, use of force, shower incident, water turned on, inmate treatment, Brooks County, investigation, suspension, law enforcement, misconduct
#BrooksCounty #SheriffMikeDewey #GBI #ExcessiveForce #CaptainScottBoutwell #BrooksCountyJail #InmateTreatment #SurveillanceFootage #InmateRights #LawEnforcement #Misconduct #Investigation #RestraintChair #JailIncident #PoliceAccountability #Justice #PublicSafety #Transparency #PoliceMisconduct #BrooksCountyGA
Disclaimer: This webpage is not an official government page or an emergency line. It is dedicated to displaying information about police misconduct and naming the agencies involved. The content provided here is for informational purposes only and does not constitute official records or legal advice. In case of an emergency, please contact your local authorities or dial 911. For official information, please refer to the appropriate government or law enforcement websites.
police misconduct law enforcement accountability public safety officer misconduct police transparency police oversight misconduct reporting police ethics public trust community safety law enforcement agencies police corruption misconduct exposure officer integrity justice reform police investigation citizen rights misconduct database police reform public accountability
#PoliceMisconduct #LawEnforcement #Accountability #PublicSafety #OfficerMisconduct #PoliceTransparency #PoliceOversight #MisconductReporting #PoliceEthics #PublicTrust #CommunitySafety #LawEnforcementAgencies #PoliceCorruption #MisconductExposure #OfficerIntegrity #JusticeReform #PoliceInvestigation #CitizenRights #MisconductDatabase #PoliceReform #PublicAccountability
Visit the Youtube counterpart to this website where the videos are located.
Please consider contributing to the Open Records Fund
https://gofund.me/8b866727
Cashapp $madvideos
Venmo @madvideos
PayPal madvideos@gmail.com
Thank you