Latest news with #KingslandPoliceDepartment
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
‘Mind blown': Reaction to arrest of Camden teacher for alleged inappropriate conduct with student
A Camden County High School teacher and part-time emergency responder is under investigation, accused of inappropriate conduct involving a student. Andrew Medders was arrested Tuesday following a report received by the Kingsland Police Department on May 19. Due to the multi-jurisdictional nature of the case, the Camden County Sheriff's Office is now leading the investigation with support from other agencies. Medders held multiple positions of trust in the community—working as a full-time teacher with the Camden County School System and part-time with Camden County Emergency Management. He was also known as a wrestling coach and was named Georgia Assistant Coach of the Year in 2019 by the Camden County Wrestling Club. RELATED: Camden County school teacher arrested, accused of inappropriate conduct with student Neighbors Carter and Julie Portman say they were shocked by the arrest. 'I was super mind blown. I didn't expect that,' Julie Portman told Action News Jax. 'He's super caring and super nice.' Carter Portman said Medders often helped with home repairs and was a familiar, friendly face in the neighborhood. 'He's a firefighter, EMT, worked with emergency management, school teacher, state wrestling coach, also a wrestling champion. He's got a lot,' he said. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] When Action News Jax knocked on Medders' door, no one answered. The Camden County School District sent a statement to Action News Jax, saying: 'We are deeply troubled by the arrest. Student safety is our top priority, and we are cooperating fully with authorities while providing support to our students and school community.' — Dr. Tracolya Green, Superintendent [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] District officials confirmed that Medders has been relieved of all classroom responsibilities, and Camden County EMA confirmed he's also been removed from his emergency management role pending the outcome of the investigation. Action News Jax has asked the Sheriff's Office for clarification on what agencies are involved, and why, and whether the student involved was in Medders' class. We are still waiting to hear back. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Yahoo
Camden County High student in custody after threats made against school
Law enforcement authorities in Camden County are crediting team work Wednesday morning for thwarting potential dangers at a school. A Camden County High School student was taken into custody following threats against the high school. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< 'Earlier this morning, we received threats of violence against the high school,' St. Marys Police Department stated in a social media post Wednesday morning. 'Due to the cooperation of the Kingsland Police Department, the Camden County Sheriff's Office, Camden County GA, and the Camden County Schools, we identified the suspect and took him into custody. Interviews are being conducted.' Authorities did not mention the nature of the threats. 'This morning's incident at Camden County High School was a reminder of the importance of teamwork, communication, and swift action,' Camden County Sheriff's Office posted on social media. 'We are incredibly grateful for the outstanding coordination between the Kingsland Police Department, St. Marys Police Department, Camden County Schools, and our Deputies.' [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Kingsland Police Department is leading the investigation on what occurred. 'More details will be released from them as they are available,' the Camden Sheriff's Office stated. Read: Search continues for young girl after boat capsizes on St. Johns River Read: Sheriff: Man accused of trafficking meth tells Putnam deputies 'there's nothing wrong with drugs' Read: Must see battle for the ages: Alligator vs. crocodile in, where else, Florida [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Yahoo
Georgia deputy who fatally shot exonerated man during traffic stop won't be charged
A Georgia sheriff's deputy involved in the fatal shooting of a man during a 2023 traffic stop that turned violent will not face criminal charges. Leonard Cure, 53, was killed only three years after being exonerated for a crime he did not commit following a 16-year sentence. The district attorney who examined the body camera footage believes the footage shows Staff Sgt. Buck Aldridge shock Cure with a Taser after he refused to put his hands behind him to be handcuffed. Cure then fights back and puts his hand at the deputy's throat before Aldridge shoots him point-blank. Family Of Exonerated Black Man Killed By Georgia Deputy Is Suing Deputy, Sheriff "Use of deadly force at that point was objectively reasonable given that he was being overpowered at that time," District Attorney Keith Higgins told The Associated Press. Higgins says he told Cure's family of his decision during a meeting Monday and that he has also notified Aldridge. Read On The Fox News App The attorneys for Cure's family still insist Aldridge used excessive force. "This decision is a devastating failure of justice, sending the message that law enforcement officers can take a life without consequence," family attorneys Ben Crump and Harry Daniels said in a statement. Ga Deputy With History Of Violence Faces Scrutiny After Fatally Shooting Motorist During Traffic Stop Cure's relatives have attributed his attempt to resist to psychological trauma from being imprisoned in Florida for an armed robbery he did not commit. Lawyers for Cure's family say that Aldridge should never have been hired after he was fired by the neighboring Kingsland Police Department in 2017. Aldridge was on a third discipline for using excessive force. He was hired nine months later, according to personnel records. Video from a June 2022 pursuit shows Aldridge punching a driver who is on his back as he pulls the driver from a wrecked car. No disciplinary actions were taken against the deputy in that incident, records show. Cure's family filed a federal lawsuit against Aldridge and then-Sheriff Jim Proctor in U.S. District Court, seeking $16 million. The lawsuit accused Aldridge of using excessive force and Proctor of ignoring the deputy's history of violence. The case is still pending in U.S. District article source: Georgia deputy who fatally shot exonerated man during traffic stop won't be charged
Fox News
28-02-2025
- Fox News
Georgia deputy who fatally shot exonerated man during traffic stop won't be charged
A Georgia sheriff's deputy involved in the fatal shooting of a man during a 2023 traffic stop that turned violent will not face criminal charges. Leonard Cure, 53, was killed only three years after being exonerated for a crime he did not commit following a 16-year sentence. The district attorney who examined the body camera footage believes the footage shows Staff Sgt. Buck Aldridge shock Cure with a Taser after he refused to put his hands behind him to be handcuffed. Cure then fights back and puts his hand at the deputy's throat before Aldridge shoots him point-blank. "Use of deadly force at that point was objectively reasonable given that he was being overpowered at that time," District Attorney Keith Higgins told The Associated Press. Higgins says he told Cure's family of his decision during a meeting Monday and that he has also notified Aldridge. The attorneys for Cure's family still insist Aldridge used excessive force. "This decision is a devastating failure of justice, sending the message that law enforcement officers can take a life without consequence," family attorneys Ben Crump and Harry Daniels said in a statement. Cure's relatives have attributed his attempt to resist to psychological trauma from being imprisoned in Florida for an armed robbery he did not commit. Lawyers for Cure's family say that Aldridge should never have been hired after he was fired by the neighboring Kingsland Police Department in 2017. Aldridge was on a third discipline for using excessive force. He was hired nine months later, according to personnel records. Video from a June 2022 pursuit shows Aldridge punching a driver who is on his back as he pulls the driver from a wrecked car. No disciplinary actions were taken against the deputy in that incident, records show. Cure's family filed a federal lawsuit against Aldridge and then-Sheriff Jim Proctor in U.S. District Court, seeking $16 million. The lawsuit accused Aldridge of using excessive force and Proctor of ignoring the deputy's history of violence. The case is still pending in U.S. District Court.
The Independent
25-02-2025
- The Independent
A Georgia deputy won't be charged for killing an exonerated man during a violent traffic stop
A Georgia sheriff's deputy won't face criminal charges for fatally shooting a Black man during a 2023 traffic stop that spiraled into a violent struggle, the district attorney who examined body camera video and other evidence in the killing said Tuesday. Leonard Cure, 53, was killed just three years after Florida authorities had freed him from prison after serving 16 years for a crime he did not commit. A deputy in Camden County, Georgia, pulled Cure over for speeding on Interstate 95 near the Florida line on Oct. 16, 2023. The deputy ordered Cure to get out of his pickup truck and shocked him with a stun gun when Cure refused to put his hands behind his back. Body camera video showed Cure was fighting back and had a hand at the deputy's throat when he was shot point-blank. 'Use of deadly force at that point was objectively reasonable given that he was being overpowered at that time,' District Attorney Keith Higgins told The Associated Press in a phone interview Tuesday. Higgins, Georgia's top prosecutor for the coastal Brunswick Judicial Circuit, said he told Cure's family of his decision during a meeting Monday and notified the deputy, Staff Sgt. Buck Aldridge. Attorneys for Cure's family have insisted Aldridge used excessive force. 'This decision is a devastating failure of justice, sending the message that law enforcement officers can take a life without consequence," family attorneys Ben Crump and Harry Daniels said in a statement. Relatives have said Cure likely resisted because of psychological trauma from his long imprisonment in Florida for an armed robbery he didn't commit. Officials exonerated and freed him in 2020. Lawyers for Cure's family have said the Camden County sheriff should never have hired Aldridge, who was fired by the neighboring Kingsland Police Department in 2017 after being disciplined a third time for using excessive force. Personnel records show the sheriff hired him nine months later.
