The Banks County Sheriff’s Office is addressing public outcry following a viral video that appears to show deputies making inappropriate comments about a young boy during an arrest on Blacks Creek Road in late March.
The video, widely circulated on social media earlier this week, shows officers—some in uniform, others in civilian clothes—on the front porch of a residence making disparaging remarks. The Banks County Sheriff’s Office has since confirmed that the comments were directed toward a child.
According to a statement from the sheriff’s office, deputies were at the residence on March 25 to execute an arrest warrant. Footage captured by a home surveillance camera shows individuals referring to someone as “trashy” and comparing them to “the offspring of the banjo player in Deliverance,” a reference to the 1972 film known for its portrayal of backwoods violence in the North Georgia mountains.
In the video, a man can be heard saying, “Where’s the cameras at? Disconnect that damn thing. They don’t need to know what we’re doing.” Moments later, a man in civilian clothing removes the camera from its mount, ending the recording abruptly.
Cierra Cruce, who posted the footage online, claims the remarks were directed at a young male child. The sheriff’s office says efforts to reach Cruce have been unsuccessful, and she is believed to have left the area.
But Cruce has contacted Now Habersham to confirm her account of the incident. She said she’s still in the area, stating she hasn’t had communication with Banks County authorities because she “doesn’t trust them.”
In a Facebook statement released Tuesday, April 8, the Banks County Sheriff’s Office acknowledged the incident and said an administrative investigation into the conduct of the deputies is ongoing.
“The actual resident and parent of the child referred to in the video had no interest in filing a formal complaint against our personnel,” the statement reads. “Even though we have not been able to make contact with the original poster, the administrative investigation continued into the conduct of the deputies depicted in the video.”
The department emphasized its commitment to transparency and said policy violations are being addressed through internal disciplinary procedures. Details on what disciplinary actions were taken have not been released.
During the March 25 operation, authorities say two individuals were arrested for outstanding warrants and one on drug possession charges, with deputies allegedly finding methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia—including syringes—in the same room as a child and one of the suspects.
The investigation remains ongoing regarding other allegations, according to police.
“It was reported that there were two deceased infants on the property,” the sheriff’s office states in a release. “Our team promptly obtained an additional search warrant to investigate the feticide claims. The Sheriff’s Office is treating these investigations with the utmost seriousness. The feticide investigation is currently ongoing, as are the drug-related offense cases. The safety and well-being of our community is our top priority, and we are committed to thoroughly examining all intricate aspects of this case.”
