"Now the minute it looks like there's gonna be trouble, we got to nip it! Nip it in the bud! You got that?"
Posted on 03/19/2008 5:05:57 PM PDT by KodakKing
Sevier County (WVLT) -- Public remarks lead to a public confrontation in Sevier County, where a former political opponent claims Sheriff Ron Seals assaulted him.
It happened Monday night as the county commission quickly adjourned a public meeting while Brad Lowe was speaking.
Volunteer TV's Rob Pratt joins us with more, including video of the incident that you'll see only on WVLT.
Brad Lowe admits he wanted to be sheriff, and it's no secret that he and Sheriff Seals do not get along.
But he says what happened to him Monday night is inexcusable, and he wants to see Sheriff Seals prosecuted for assault.
The Sevier County Commission gave Brad Lowe a chance to speak last night, but not for long.
When he started making accusations about abuse by jailers, commissioners adjourned the meeting.
Lowe kept his own camera rolling as the Sheriff crossed the room to confront him.
Lowe:"Oh no, that's an assault sir."
Seals:"I didn't assault you."
Lowe:"Yes you did. That hit me. I'm going to got take out a warrant for you sir."
Seals:"Do what you need to."
Lowe:"I will"
Seals:"Do what you need to."
Lowe:"I will fat boy."
Deputy:Hey, hey."
Seals:"You need to go."
(Excerpt) Read more at volunteertv.com ...
Kind of looked like the sheriff was baiting him to see if he would do something that could be construed as an assault.
I liked the video of the burning oil well. Sure to spike oil prices up to $150/barrel.
***Andy Griffith never did anything like that. I’m just sayin’ is all.***
Citizen’s A-rest. Citizen’s A-rest!
To me the alledge assault is not nearly as outrageous as the adjournment because a citizen was raising a controversial point with the commission. It sure makes it look like someone has something to hide there.
You have that backwards. Lowe was the one doing the name calling, trying to bait the sheriff. And he carefully had his camera pointed at the ceiling during the alleged assault, and then appeared to poke the camera in the sheriff's face. Looks like the lawmen showed admirable restraint.
I’m afraid you might be right. They have done that to him twice, I’ve heard. They make him wait till last to speak so they can ajourn on him. That’s the reason he used for taping the meeting, anyway.
You are exactly right Par! I think he was wanting the sheriff to do something just like he did.
Now, granted, I don't know the character of anyone in the video, but it really seemed very strange to me to see how close the sheriff got in this guys face. Sheriffs that I have known personally would never have done that. They would have kept a professional distance, and probably not even confronted the guy like that.
Where I'm from, calling an obese person (and the sheriff obviously could stand to shed a few pounds) 'Fat Boy' qualifies as name calling.
Sorry, but it still looks to me like the sheriff did not conduct himself in a professional manner. Was it assault? I don't know. That will be for someone else to decide. Was it stupid and unprofessional? Definitely.
"Now the minute it looks like there's gonna be trouble, we got to nip it! Nip it in the bud! You got that?"
I didn’t see the camera get slapped. I saw it jerk, but it isn’t clear to me that contact was made. But even if the sheriff did swat it, I’d still side with him. Poke an object up in my face, and my reaction would be to swat it away, as well.
I watched about half the tape, and I’ll say it again. The sheriff showed restraint with someone who came there looking to start trouble as a campaign tactic.
He didn’t poke the camera in the sheriffs face. The sheriff came over to him and he did slap it (with the volume turned up you can hear it). And I’m sorry, but apparently you and I have different ideas of what constitutes “restraint”. I don’t see where the sheriff showed any.
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