3 Wake Deputies Resign Amid Assault Investigation
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Three undercover deputies accused of harassing and beating a preacher outside a Garner restaurant have resigned, Wake County Sheriff Donnie Harrison announced Wednesday afternoon.
Chris Roth, Katie Broda and Kevin Hinton, of their own volition, submitted their resignations to Harrison on Wednesday, he said. One is effective immediately; the other two are effective Friday.
The alleged incident happened outside Applebee's on Aug. 26. Robert Wise, of Garner, said he, his wife and 11-year-old daughter were leaving the restaurant when a man came up to their car window, yelling at them about taking up two parking spaces.
Wise said the man didn't identify himself as a law enforcement officer and tried to pull him out of the car. He said he was beaten, sprayed with pepper spray and handcuffed and needed to be taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Harrison said Wednesday that he in no way condoned the officers' alleged actions but said that they had made a mistake.
"This was something that just happened," he said. "We're human beings. We make mistakes; and we're going to learn from these mistakes and keep going."
Prior to the accusations, Harrison said, the deputies involved had exemplary performance records and never had any problems.
"I do want the citizens of this county to know, and the employees of this sheriff's office to know, that I will not tolerate any unprofessional conduct in this office," Harrison said. "And I would like to tell Mr. Wise and his family that I apologize for this instance, and we're going to move forward."
The State Bureau of Investigation and the Wake County district attorney's office are investigating the case at Harrison's request. District Attorney Colon Willoughby said it could be several weeks before he receives the SBI's report and decides whether to file criminal charges in the case.
Roth had been with the sheriff's department for nine years, Hinton for seven and Broda for five, Harrison said.
Wise could not be reached for comment on Wednesday afternoon.
Yeah, it was just a accident. I know I pull people out of their cars all the time for double parking and beat them. I don't have any hand cuffs but zip ties work nicely. (/sarcasm)
Good officer? WTF?
Deputies Resign Amid Investigation
"Any time you lose three officers at one time, it hurts," Harrison said. "Losing good officers, it hurts even worse."
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=local&id=4558244