The sheriff’s action was not just disturbing, but illegal. It’s official misconduct, invasion of privacy, and a possible violation of the 4th amendment (unreasonable search and seizure). I’d sue Houston County for a boatload of money, and demand the sheriff lose his job as well.
/not a frivolous lawsuit, especially since the sheriff says “it happens every day”.
Somewhere in the story it says the couple had a restraining order out on someone else (unrelated to the story) and valued their privacy. The sheriff’s actions could have endangered them and if they were assaulted, or worse, he would have been culpable. Who’s policing the police?