Published: September 29, 2008 11:03 pm         

Fayette sheriff to probe Montgomery incident

Montgomery’s police chief said Monday that the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department has agreed to investigate allegations that a black man was beaten by a pair of Montgomery police officers Friday night.

“I’ve requested that it be investigated, according to the Policeman’s Bill of Rights,” explained Police Chief Pete Lopez, referring to statewide guidelines set down by the Legislature for such scenarios.

He said that Fayette County Sheriff Bill Laird told him that the matter was at the “top of his list” and that he would “get on it immediately.” Laird confirmed Monday that he had made a preliminary decision to tap Detective Lt. J.K. Sizemore for that assignment.

“Once they do that (investigate), they will bring the results of their investigation to me. What’s required (of the investigator) is that they be at least a higher rank than anyone involved in it,” Lopez observed.

Lopez expressed a desire to move the inquiry along post haste into his officers’ purported actions. “It’s not something we will wait on. We will move without delay,” he said.

Lopez declined to comment further on the situation for fear of “muddying up the start of someone else’s investigation. I don’t want to put the investigator in a box to where they would have to address something I’ve said.”

He confirmed that Patrolman Shawn Hutchinson’s employment was terminated Saturday, while Patrolman Matthew Leavitt was placed on paid administrative leave the same day. Ironically, Lopez added, Saturday marked the end of Hutchinson’s six-month probationary period with the department.

“Someone beyond that (probationary period) has additional rights, according to the Policeman’s Bill of Rights,” Lopez noted.

Twan Reynolds and his wife, Lauren, both of Beards Fork, accused Hutchinson and Leavitt of repeatedly hitting Twan Reynolds over the head with a blackjack, kicking him in the back and spraying his eyes with mace.

They also say Leavitt repeatedly used a racial epithet against Reynolds, and Lauren Reynolds claimed that Leavitt licked her neck during an interrogation and made derogatory comments. The officers and Lauren Reynolds are white.

Montgomery Mayor Jim Higgins said he fired Hutchinson Saturday for insubordination. Higgins said he would decide later about Leavitt, who also faces an insubordination charge. Leavitt denied that he did anything improper.

Twan Reynolds was charged with two counts of battery on a police officer, disorderly conduct and obstruction of justice, while Lauren Reynolds was cited with battery on a police officer, disorderly conduct, obstruction of justice and having an open container, Lopez confirmed to The Charleston Gazette.

— E-mail:

mhill@register-herald.com