Latest news with #RichardColeman
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Complaint filed by parent of deceased Chatham County Jail inmate removed to federal court
The lawsuit filed by attorneys for the parent of a man who died in the Chatham County Detention Center in March 2023 against Chatham County has been removed from Chatham County State Court to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, according to court documents obtained by the Savannah Morning News. The complaint was filed on behalf of Gregory Alan Woods, who died in the Chatham County Detention Center on the morning of March 5, 2023, by attorneys for Henry Ashley Woods, who is listed as Gregory's surviving parent. In the complaint, Woods' attorneys allege a failure to render appropriate aid after he was allegedly assaulted and battered, leaving him in distress for an extended period of time and a failure to secure appropriate and timely medical treatment for him, as previously reported by SMN. Defendants named in the complaint include Chatham County, current Chatham County Sheriff Richard Coleman, in addition to an unnamed healthcare provider and unnamed correctional officers and medical staff. The complaint was filed by Ashleigh Madison of Southeast Law and Andrew Lavoie of Bruce, Matthews & Lavoie, in Chatham County State Court nearly two years after Woods' death. The attorneys seek $5 million for multiple alleged damages, including wrongful death, assault, battery and excessive force, medical, funeral and burial expenses, in addition to a violation of 42 U.S. Code § 1983, a civil action for the deprivation of rights. More: Georgia Bureau of Investigation investigates death in Chatham County jail More: Parent of deceased Chatham County Detention Center inmate files complaint against county More: With few beds, fewer psychologists, Georgia inmates wait months for mental health evaluations On Monday, Chatham County Attorney Jonathan Hart and Chatham County Assistant County Attorney Andre Pretorius also filed an answer to the complaint on behalf of Chatham County Sheriff Richard Coleman, Chatham County and other county defendants. In the answer, Pretorius and Hart lodged more than 20 defenses and denied numerous allegations. The county attorneys argue that Woods was not deprived of access to medical services and his injuries 'were not proximately caused by any negligence or other tortious acts or omissions.' Woods' attorneys 'fail to state a claim or cause of action against one or more of these Defendants upon which relief can be granted,' the county attorneys allege. County defendants 'at all times acted in good faith without malice and without an intent to cause injury.' Any injuries or damages suffered by Woods 'is the result of actions or inactions on the part of the Plaintiff and therefore Plaintiff cannot recover from County Defendants,' the county attorneys also argue. 'Having answered the complaint and stated their defenses, County Defendants request that judgment be entered in their favor against the Plaintiff, that Plaintiff take nothing of County Defendants, that County Defendants be awarded and Plaintiff be assessed all costs incurred, including attorney's fees, that all costs of this action be taxed against the Plaintiff, and for such other relief as this Court may deem just and proper,' the county's answer reads. In a phone call, Pretorius confirmed that the county attorneys filed an answer to the complaint and removed the case to federal court but declined further comment. Madison and Lavoie did not return an email requesting comment as of publication time. Drew Favakeh is the public safety and courts reporter for Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at AFavakeh@ This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Chatham County Jail death complaint removed to federal court
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Chatham County sheriff recaps first 100 days
CHATHAM COUNTY, Ga (WSAV) — Chatham County Sheriff Richard Coleman reached his 100 days in office, and he is happy with the direction the agency is going in. WSAV sat down with Coleman, and he said he remains optimistic about the challenges that lie ahead. 'We put emphasis on in-person visitation, which we are looking to complete real soon,' he said. 'We put emphasis on budgeting and staffing.' In-person jail visits were halted during the COVID- 19 pandemic and hasn't continued. Community members are looking forward to its return and Coleman revealed the anticipated start date is late April. 'We're in the post-COVID era now,' Coleman continued. 'And I think the time is now to allow individuals in the community to reunite and at some point, have in-person eyes on their loved ones and to check on their welfare.' Before he was elected Coleman promised to address gaps within the agency like staffing shortages. He told WSAV that when he took over, the agency was nearly 200 employees short. Now, he said about 60% of those vacancies have been covered, and they are actively working to be fully staffed. To accomplish this, officials say he is a believer in the 'second chance initiative', which allows qualified individuals a second chance at serving the community. 'It just strengthens your ability to serve when you actually have numbers,' said Coleman. He continued, 'What we've done essentially is start up new units to support local law enforcement agencies in their crime prevention efforts.' For Coleman he is already looking ahead to the next 100 days. 'We want to strengthen our law enforcement efforts to the Chatham County community,' he said. 'And we just want to strengthen our overall position at the Chatham County Sheriff's Office to include a new project that we're taking on as far as filling manpower at the new courthouse.' Coleman also pointed to his worked to improve jail conditions. They have upgraded food and service quality. Coleman is the first black male to be elected as sheriff in Chatham County. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Yahoo
Man tried to kill police officer over grudge with authority
A man has admitted trying to kill a police officer in an attack motivated by anti-government ideology, a court has heard. Alexander Dighton, 28, admitted attempted murder with a knife outside a police station in south Wales. Dighton, from Llantrisant, Rhondda Cynon Taf, had represented himself and was also charged with six other offences after three officers in total were injured at Talbot Green police station, with two taken to hospital and treated for their injuries. Police said there was a violent struggle after officers challenged a man allegedly damaging cars at about 19:00 GMT on 31 January. Both have now been discharged and Ch Supt Stephen Jones said they were "shaken" but did not sustain any major injuries. Dighton also admitted attempted arson, attacking two other police officers, and threatening a third, pleading guilty to a total of 10 charges. He had refused the help of a lawyer saying at a previous hearing that he "doesn't consider the profession to be a respectable one". When Mrs Justice Cheema Grubb suggested he had a problem with authority, he told her: "Authority is not my problem... but the use of authority that I have seen since I was 15, that is my problem." A psychiatric report said he was fit to plead to the charges. "I don't think I have Asperger's," Dighton told the court, using a name sometimes used to describe Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). His attack on the police station began when he threw a Molotov cocktail at a police van. It failed to ignite, but he then poured the petrol from a second Molotov cocktail bottle on to the bonnet of another police van and set it alight. He then started a fire under the van. He used a long wooden pole with metal attached to the end to smash the van's windows and to start attacking a police car. Much of the attack was recorded on CCTV cameras. When PC Stephanie Fleming came out to confront him he turned towards her with his weapon raised saying: "I'm fed up. I'm done." When she tasered him it had no effect and he moved to the foyer of the police station and started attacking Sgt Richard Coleman. Sgt Coleman used PAVA spray on Dighton, but this also had little effect, and Dighton hit the officer around the head with the pole, leaving him with a head injury. When Det Con Joshua Emlyn tried to help, Dighton punched him in the head. At this point three police officers attempted to restrain Dighton and he stabbed Det Con Jack Cotton in the leg, leaving him with a wound, When officers searched him they found Dighton was wearing body armour and was carrying a hatchet in his bag. When he was arrested he said: "I've been damned from birth." He pleaded guilty to attempted arson, attempting to murder Det Con Jack Cotton, assaulting Sgt Richard Coleman, threatening PC Stephanie Coleman, assaulting Det Con Joshua Emlyn, having an adapted wooden pole as a weapon, having a knife, having a hatchet, damaging a police van, and damaging a second police van. Three years ago Dighton disappeared from his home at the time in Preston. Appealing on Facebook, his sister Heather Dighton described him as "very vulnerable". She said he had "left a concerning note" and had "wiped his history on his laptop". She said he was a "wonderful, kind, quirky guy". He re-emerged a few days later. He will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on 13 May.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Local Sheriffs react to Federal program 287(g)
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) – For many sheriffs in our community the answer to the question of Federal Program 287(g) was the same: We will uphold the law, but we won't allow anything unconstitutional to happen to the citizens who reside in their communities. Chatham County Sheriff Richard Coleman stated, 'In my view as long as they reside in Chatham County, they are citizens.' If state and local Law Enforcement agencies choose to participate, the program gives them the authority to perform specified immigration officer functions under the agency's direction and oversight. Sheriff Coleman along with Liberty County Sheriff William Bowman both have the same stance on the 287(g) program. If it is required of the law, then they will uphold their civic duty but as far as volunteering to work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), both are opposed. 'I heard that a lot of sheriffs are opting out you know, they're challenging the constitutional position of these orders that are coming forward. But I'm sure that like myself, you know, they are also law men and women who understand that their duty is to protect and uphold the Constitution,' Coleman said. 'After speaking with Sheriff Bowman, as far as anything that comes down, you know, are we only going to do what the law requires. We're not going to volunteer to do anything. We're going to do what the law states,' said Lt. Phillip Bohannon, Liberty County Public Information Officer. Other counties in the state have opted in and will be working with ICE, but as far as our counties, these were these were the reasons stated for why they won't be opting in include cost, time, and staffing measures. 'Whether its federal enforcement or local enforcement you know there's a tax dollar hat applies to any situation that, you know, any police or law enforcement operation, and so you have to consider the taxpaying citizens of your county when you make these decisions with any of these law enforcement operations,' Coleman News 3 reached out to eight different law enforcement agencies across various counties and are still waiting for six to respond. This is a developing story and we will provide updates as soon as they are made available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
