The Banks County Sheriff’s Office has released a statement following a viral video that appears to show deputies allegedly using disparaging remarks about a young boy during an incident at a home on Blacks Creek Church Road.
The Banks County Sheriff’s Office has since launched an internal review in the wake of the incident, which is said to have occurred on March 25.
The reason officers were at the home at the time remains unclear, and Now Habersham has filed open records request with the sheriff’s office for more information.
In the video, taken from a camera mounted to the home, officers and individuals dressed in civilian clothing are seen standing on the front porch making remarks like “trashy” before referring to someone as “looking like the offspring of the banjo player in ‘Deliverance'” – a film about men who stalk and attack four vacationers on a trip in the Northeast Georgia mountains.
In a caption posted with the video, a woman named Cierra Cruce claims the remarks were directed at a young male child. The video is abruptly ended within a minute of when it started after one of the men, with officers observing, says: “Where’s the cameras at? Disconnect that damn thing. They don’t need to know what we’re doing.”
A man dressed in civilian clothing then rips the camera off its mount before the video ends.
“On April 6…the Banks County Sheriff’s Office became aware of a video circulating on social media involving our deputies,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement on Facebook. “We want to assure the public that we are actively reviewing the footage and taking this matter seriously. As an agency, we are committed to upholding the values of professionalism, respect, integrity, dependability and empathy in all aspects of our work. The safety, trust and well-being of our community remain our top priorities.”
The statement goes on to say: “While we cannot provide specific details at this time due to the sensitive nature of the individuals involved, we are conducting a thorough internal review to ensure all actions align with our policies and standards. We appreciate the public’s understanding and patience…”
