|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The embattled Laurens County Sheriffs Office (LCSO) has once again made headlines for unscrupulous actions performed by a deputy all-too-familiar to this outlet. Fear not, though, as sheriff Don Reynolds terminated this officer’s employment — albeit three weeks after defending him on Facebook.
WARNING: This report contains graphic depictions of animal cruelty … and censored images of male nudity.
As our outlet reported last month, LCSO lieutenant Timothy Byrd and animal control sergeant Geoffrey Brown shot three docile dogs with a department-issued shotgun while in the presence of officers of the Laurens Police Department (LPD) on December 17, 2022.
***
Unbeknownst to Byrd and Brown, their actions were recorded on two separate police cameras and sent to S.C. eighth judicial circuit public defender Chelsea McNeill — who was notified of the incident by an unrelated witness.
Following her 11-month investigation across multiple departments, McNeill concluded that Byrd and Brown had committed felonious animal cruelty for the unprovoked shooting of these canines. Her argument? That a civilian would be arrested for doing the exact same thing under the exact same circumstance.
Don’t believe her? Take a look …
(Click to View)
Did we mention that Byrd received the prestigious Laurens County Officer of the Year Award five months after shooting this canine? Or that he was featured on FOX Carolina, GoLaurens and Who’s On The Move following his ceremony at Piedmont Technical College (PTI)?
For a better understanding of what transpired on December 17, 2022, we encourage you to read our original exposé: Sheriff Remains Silent On Graphic Video Of Deputy Shooting Dog. The five-minute documentary essay we published with it is worth scrutinizing, too.
***
“THE FACEBOOK SHERIFF”
(Laurens County Sheriff’s Office)
Three days after publishing our initial exposé, Reynolds assailed FITSNews on social media — claiming we neither contacted him nor gave him an opportunity to respond to the allegations against his department.
This, despite the fact we emailed him on November 15, 2023, and encouraged him to respond to the allegations against his department.
We published our exposé three weeks after contacting his office to no avail. We then published a separate report — Sheriff Blasts FITSNews Amid New Animal Cruelty Allegations — in which he did not respond to yet another request for comment.
In place of his inexplicable silence, first responders from within his own jurisdiction have come forward to speak out anonymously …
“Excuse my language, but f*** Don Reynolds,” said one of these public servants. “The sheriff is in damage-control mode right now. He’s running scared and can’t figure out who’s leaking this information … Everyone must be held accountable, including him.”
On December 13, 2023 — one day after blasting this outlet — Reynolds announced his bid for reelection. According to several constituents, Reynolds has advised them to ignore our “fake” outlet.
***
WHAT ABOUT BROWN?
(Click to View)
(Provided)
(Provided)
***
On Dec. 30, 2023, Brown was abruptly terminated from LCSO following three years and seven months of nationally-recognized duty. News of the expulsion was leaked by fellow deputies and confirmed by training files obtained from the S.C. Criminal Justice Academy (SCCJA).
According to the SCCJA, Brown was terminated from the Belton Police Department (BPD) for violation of agency policy in 2007 … before he failed to complete basic training with the Ware Shoals Police Department (WSPD) in 2014. Six years later, he was deputized by LCSO.
The same files indicate that Brown was terminated last month for the following: “Violation of agency policy not involving misconduct. Violation of use of social media policy. Violation of unbecoming conduct policy.”
“Everyone was told that he was fired because of inappropriate pictures sent over Facebook Messenger,” said one officer familiar with the termination. “But we think they’re trying to save face because they don’t want people to know it was over Grindr.”
While exact details remain unclear, it appears as though Brown’s naked hot tub selfies were leaked from his Grindr account — a mobile dating app used by men and “gender non-conforming people” of the LGBTQ+ community.
The Grindr profile and subsequent selfies — which have since made their way into the hands of constituents — indicate that Brown had an affinity for hosting “otters,” or traditionally masculine men with average levels of body hair … in his hot tub.
“Now don’t get me wrong,” continued the anonymous officer. “Reynolds is old school. As old school as you can get. I’m sure Brown being gay played a part in his termination, but I think the d*** pic gave [Reynolds] the excuse he needed.”
The hotly contested, widely circulated pictures in question …
(Click to View)
(Provided)
(Provided)
***
THE PATH FORWARD …
As with every FITSNews report detailing unscrupulous actions from within the LCSO, we reached out to Reynolds in hopes that he would share his side of the developing narrative. Our latest message was sent on January 9, 2024, and reads in part:
Our outlet is writing an article on Sgt. Geoff Brown’s abrupt termination from the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) on Dec. 30, 2023.
That being said, is your office interested in providing a statement on Brown’s “violation of agency policy” resulting in his unemployment?
Finally, what is the best way to contact your office moving forward? I’m asking as neither you nor your staff have ever responded to my emails.
Tue, Jan 9, 11:44 a.m.
Neither Reynolds nor anyone empowered to speak on his behalf responded. On that point, we highly encourage the incumbent sheriff to monitor his inbox ahead of primaries — as FITSNews is investigating a now-leaked department secret wreaking of corruption.
“It’s so sad,” McNeill said, referring to Brown’s termination. “Apparently, murdering dogs doesn’t get you fired but having alleged gay material online in your personal life does.”
If anyone in our audience knows of similar cases deserving of investigative scrutiny, please reach out to this media outlet. We’re not only committed to exposing nefarious activity within government — but also holding our law enforcement officers accountable.
***
ABOUT THE AUTHOR …
Andrew Fancher is a Lone Star Emmy award-winning journalist from Dallas, Texas. Cut from a bloodline of outlaws and lawmen alike, he was the first of his family to graduate college which was accomplished with honors. Got a story idea or news tip for Andy? Email him directly and connect with him socially across Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
***
WANNA SOUND OFF?
Got something you’d like to say in response to one of our articles? Or an issue you’d like to proactively address? We have an open microphone policy here at FITSNews! Submit your letter to the editor (or guest column) via email HERE. Got a tip for a story? CLICK HERE. Got a technical question or a glitch to report? CLICK HERE.
24 comments
1312.
Meaning …….what, exactly? Just curious – maybe ‘cop code’ for a certain set of circumstances? Like on TV – patrolmen get a call from dispatch of a ‘245’ or ‘144’ which tells them what they’re headed into??????
Red Uprising is a cop hater.
And you are a 11919 815125.
At least I’m not a bootlicker.
Perhaps the sheriff has received advice from the county attorney to remain silent. Cops are very good at pleading the fifth unlike the people they harass.
The thick blue line will remain silent and the Facebook sheriff will sit in his Tahoe posting feel good self promoting posts for his faithful believers.
At every level the “criminal justice system” is corrupt. That’s why it’s named “criminal justice”, it’s run be criminals on behalf of criminals. You can’t fix what ain’t broke.
How about them allowing the county to use a convicted felony for a doctor. Judges letting attorney’s rewrite orders, letting employees tell citizens to write someone else’s name on federal background checks, taken children from parents for abuse and never charging them, allowing employees who work for a government agency in this county letting employees lie on the stand in court falsifying documents, refusing to help citizens or even speaking with them. Holding citizens in jail well over 72 hours and never book. Or finger printed no arrest on file. Letting agency place children with registered sex offender, using laboratory that has already caught falsifying drug test.. And our law enforcement tells us citizens they can not help us.. well don’t hold us citizens accountable when we go back to old days and take justice in our own hands. We us as citizens deserve to be heard or listened to… look into the court system the courrp family court with judges and attorney.
Email me: andy@fitsnews.com
Don’t judge a book by it’s cover. Condemning law enforcement as a whole is stupid and dangerous. Law abiding citizens generally do not fear nor hate law enforcement. The vast majority of officers are faithful to their jobs and do their jobs with utmost professionalism. If you want to know more about how your police department works, see if they have a Citizen’s Police Academy; if they do, sign up, then shut up and learn. There’s opportunity for questions if you don’t understand something.
Killing the dogs in conjunction with an officer from Animal Control is a “judgment call”. Publishing photos of your “twigs and berries” on Grindr is a “lack of judgement call” (particularly after making your boss look bad). Sheriff did the right thing in both cases.
Dogs were a nuisance and hanging out where they did not belong. You can shoot coyotes on your property that are not an immediate threat to you. Just because they are not attacking you or your pets or livestock now does not mean they won’t in the future. Enough of this dogs equal to people, bs.
You are right, we need to stop insulting dogs. They are way better than a lot of people.
Totally agree with Beth.
I like it. ??
You seem awfully aggressive.
Maybe you should be stopped because of what you might do in the future?
This guy has a big future in MAGA world!
I give it two years before he’s on a school board.
Ignore the “??” It was sposed to be 2 thumbs up.
I would be more concerned about the deputy that was terminated by the county and then the city because he repeatedly tazed a homeless guy. He’s the one that leaked the grindr photo. Wonder if his wife knows he’s on Grindr. All of your sources are disgruntled former employees, and the so called attorney you reference has ODd from drug use several times. Not credible, just like fits news.
Not credible? Pictures are included. Did you miss them?
Finally someone said it. Excessive use of force for taxing someone THIRTEEN TIMES IN A ROW. We also should mention the source of the story was constantly using steroids, muscle relaxers for “back pain” and sending dick pics to dispatchers from his patrol car while on duty when he worked at LCSO! He was also scared to make contact with any party while on duty so instead tased them. No one liked him or working for him. Him and the fat Sgt. that got fire with him deserved their termination. They should just take it and quit ruining the lives of others.
Please stop repeating article when we are paying
People actually pay for this?
So not fired for being a rotten dog killer but fired for allegedly being on a gay app? I do not care who this guy sleeps with but I do care about dogs being mistreated with an abuse of power.
Maybe instead of listening to the guy who got fired from both law enforcement agencies in Laurens County, you could start looking into his background as to why he got fired! He’s a steroid-using, sexist bunt with a C who has tazed people MULTIPLE times in one altercation. It looks bad for your news company seeing where you get your information. Richey is a POS and deserves to be behind bars, yet you’re taking all the information he’s giving you so he can divert attention away from himself!