Richmond County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/RichmondCountySheriffsOfficeGeorgia
Once records start coming in we will mind map out to the individual cops and make a page just for them. If you go here https://shieldsofshame.com/site-map/ You can see pages for all the cops I have profiled and most have videos.
If you would like to contribute to open records fee’s you can cash app me $madvideos PayPal madvideos@gmail.com or Venmo @madvideos Thank you!
The email chain from the open records request. It’s a game they play, called the “World of corruption” bad faith actors.
Here is a screen grab, is the tint too dark?
1. Probable Cause for a Vehicle Search?
- A traffic violation (like illegal tint) is not probable cause to search a car.
- However, officers can conduct a search if:
- They see contraband in plain view (e.g., drugs, weapons).
- They develop reasonable suspicion of criminal activity (e.g., smell of marijuana).
- The driver consents to a search.
- A K-9 alerts to drugs in the vehicle (but the K-9 sniff cannot prolong the stop per Rodriguez v. U.S. [2015]).
🚨 If no independent probable cause exists, a search based only on a tint violation is unconstitutional.
2. Can the Driver Be Handcuffed for a Tint Violation?
- Handcuffing is considered a use of force, so it must be justified by:
- Officer safety concerns (e.g., the driver appears armed or aggressive).
- A lawful arrest (e.g., if the driver has outstanding warrants).
- Reasonable suspicion of a more serious crime beyond the tint violation.
🚨 If the driver is handcuffed without any threat or lawful reason, it could be considered an illegal detention or excessive force.
The new email with the exemptions RCSO made and my response. They stated there is no incident report, how can this be?
The Georgia Open Records Act
The stop was conducted by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office located in Augusta Georgia
I love finding new cops to investigate! Series anyone?
This is a traffic stop I passed and stopped to film. There are outstanding open records for body cam on this incident. It took some arm twisting to get them to release the CAD sheet. I will post it below so you can compare the video with the CAD sheet. This was a routine stop, no reason given on the CAD sheet. Search and arrest for no reason. Nice and classy RCSO!
Analysis of the CAD Report
The Call For Service (CFS 8540) report details a traffic stop (TS) that took place on February 15, 2025, at Highway 88 & Ramsey Road, Hephzibah, GA.
Key Findings from the Report
- Traffic Stop Initiated
- Time: 4:55:42 PM
- Vehicle: Silver Honda Accord (Plate SBI7117)
- Officer: K1 (Cowdrey) was the primary officer.
- Detainment of the Driver
- At 5:05:38 PM, Unit B48 reported that “L1 has 1 detained.”
- At 5:09:51 PM, the report was corrected to indicate that K1 had detained the individual (not B48).
- The term “detain” suggests that the driver was not formally arrested at this point but was not free to leave.
- Search of the Driver and Vehicle
- While the CAD does not explicitly state a search occurred, video confirmed that the driver and vehicle were searched and that the driver was handcuffed.
- Handcuffing can sometimes escalate a detention into a de facto arrest, depending on circumstances (e.g., the length of detention and level of restriction).
- Incident Location Change
- At 5:13:33 PM, the location changed from Highway 88 & Jones St to Highway 88 & Ramsey Rd.
- This could indicate that the stop was extended or that additional investigation occurred at a secondary location.
- Final Disposition
- At 5:22:51 PM, Unit B48 was marked available.
- At 5:23:09 PM, Call Disposition: “08” was added, and the call was closed.
- Code “08” typically indicates a warning, field interview, or release without charges.
Legal Implications
- Was this an Arrest?
- The driver was detained, handcuffed, and searched, but later released.
- Courts consider the totality of circumstances to determine whether a detention became an arrest.
- If the officers had probable cause but later decided not to charge the driver, this could be considered a custodial detention that did not lead to an arrest.
- If the detention was prolonged without justification, it could be legally challenged.
- Could This Be Unlawful Detention?
- If reasonable suspicion justified the stop, and probable cause justified the search, then the detention may have been legal.
- If handcuffs were used without proper cause, it could be argued that this was an unlawful arrest.
The clip below shows the driver in handcuffs while Deputy Matthew Cowdrey searches the drivers vehicle. RCSO claims this was a window tint violation stop, sure as hell don’t look like it!!
RCSO Policy Manual https://shieldsofshame.com/richmond-county-sheriffs-office-2/2021-rcso-policy-manual-3/
It occurred to me that the biggest clue was overlooked, her name, why is it not showing they called her in? That is the radio traffic on the CAD sheet, in 99% of the CAD sheets I have, the drivers name is called in and it is stated on the CAD sheet. Examine the one below then look at the samples I received from the same agency, they all have the drivers name being call over radio.
Samples from previous Augusta E-911 services requests, cad sheets where the persons name is called in to dispatch
Eric McCants Employee Photo (Cert below)
Matthew Cowdrey Employee Photo (Cert below)
Georgia POST Council state certifications for 2 of the officers. Both brand new to RCSO but have lengthy pasts!!
Open records requests have been submitted as follows:
Burke County uses an online portal https://www.burkecountysheriff.com/open-records-request.cfm
Eric J McCants – Burke County Sheriff’s office
BCSO ORR https://www.burkecountysheriff.com/open-records-request.cfm Submitted 2.18.25
Good day,
I am requesting records related to Eric J McCants, Image on file / service photo, Any Garrity or Miranda on file , 1st page of all use off force reports, Arrest history – Persons he has arrested for duration of employment, All public complaints, Disciplinary file, Resignation letter, Any internal complaints
Only 2 cops were mentioned in the CAD sheet however there are 3!
The driver was released after a search of her, her car and she was handcuffed.
The search of the car
Dog taking a shit on someones property
The new Sheriff Gino Brantley
Packing up!
My request for the records
The Attorney General complaint – File a complaint https://law.georgia.gov/key-issues/open-government/open-government-complaint
AG complaint 2.19.25
Attorney General of Georgia
Georgia Department of Law
40 Capitol Square SW
Atlanta, GA 30334
Subject: Formal Complaint – Improper Withholding of Public Records
Dear Attorney General,
I am filing a formal complaint regarding the denial of my Open Records Request for body camera footage, incident reports, and officer history related to a traffic stop on February 15, 2025, in Hephzibah, Georgia involving officers Matthew A. Cowdrey and Eric J. McCants. I believe the cited exemptions were misapplied in an effort to conceal potential misconduct by these officers.
Challenging the Exemptions Cited
1. Misuse of O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72(a)(4) – “Pending Investigation”
You stated that records are exempt because they pertain to a pending investigation; however, you also stated that the driver was released with a warning and no prosecution is pending. How can this exemption apply when no investigation exists?
Additionally, I question whether federal laws were violated by these officers when they:
- Placed the female driver in handcuffs
- Detained her in the back of a patrol car
- Searched her vehicle
- Deployed a K9 unit
All of this was done under the pretext of a window tint violation.
Was the tint meter calibrated? What was the exact reading? Such details should have been recorded in an incident report, yet I was told none exists.
2. Misuse of O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72(a)(3) – “Confidential Source”
You also cited an exemption regarding confidential investigative or prosecution material that could reveal a confidential source or endanger someone’s safety. However:
- I filmed the entire incident myself.
- The only person visible was the driver.
- Are you now claiming that the driver is a confidential informant because she was recorded on a public roadway?
This exemption does not apply and appears to be an attempt to shield public records from scrutiny.
3. Was the Driver’s Detention and Search Lawful?
Handcuffing is considered a use of force and is only justified under the following conditions:
- Officer safety concerns (e.g., the driver was armed or aggressive). The driver in my footage did not appear hostile.
- A lawful arrest (e.g., outstanding warrants). You confirmed the driver was released without charges.
- Reasonable suspicion of a more serious crime beyond the tint violation. What was the reasonable suspicion?
Your office also stated that no incident report exists. Does this mean that officers are conducting proactive stops with no accountability or documentation?
4. Unlawful Denial of Body Camera Footage
I specifically requested the full body camera footage from Officers Cowdrey and McCants between 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM on 2/15/25. Instead of providing these public records, your office appears to be withholding them under a blanket exemption. This is unacceptable.
Additionally, I requested the arrest history of these two officers, which has also not been provided. These are public records, and failure to disclose them raises serious concerns about transparency.
5. Presence of an Unlisted Female Officer
Who was the female officer present at the scene? She is not listed on the CAD report. Was she operating under an unreported assignment, or has her involvement been deliberately omitted from records?
Demand for Compliance
I am formally requesting that your office release the full body camera footage as required under Georgia’s Open Records Act. I also demand a written explanation as to why:
- No incident report was filed.
- The officers’ arrest history was not provided.
- An unlisted officer was on scene.
Next Steps
I am copying this complaint to the Georgia Attorney General’s Office and will be filing a formal complaint on the AG’s website. Your refusal to release these records constitutes a violation of public records laws and a potential cover-up of unconstitutional policing practices.
To further demonstrate the lack of justification for these exemptions, I am providing my footage of the incident, which contradicts your claims. It can be viewed here:
👉 https://shieldsofshame.com/hephzibah-georgia-traffic-stop-2-15-25/
I expect a response and full disclosure of the requested records within the timeframe required by law.
more to come…
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