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Only on 12: North Augusta officer investigated for alleged excessive force

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Posted: 5:56 PM Oct 10, 2008
Last Updated: 7:02 PM Oct 10, 2008
Reporter: Gene Petriello
Email Address: gene.petriello@wrdw.com

23 comments

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News 12 First at Five; October 10, 2008

NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. --- Only on 12, we confirm there is a state investigation into a now-Lieutenant at North Augusta Public Safety, Robbie Bell. He's being investigated for excessive use of force while making an arrest from back in June of 2007.

North Augusta Police Chief Lee Wetherington confirms that Bell is being investigated by the state.

This all started after a shoplifting report at Walmart on Knox Avenue in North Augusta in June of 2007. An incident report obtained by News 12 shows Joseph Williams was in a car where a stolen TV was found, with another suspect. Williams and the other suspect were taken to jail and booked for shoplifting.

But a source is telling News 12 that during the attempt to arrest Williams, Bell hit Williams in the face and mouth with his pistol. In a booking report picture that News 12 has obtained, there is a bandage on Williams' face.

A source is also telling News 12 a letter was sent to North Augusta recently demanding money paid to Williams for his medical bills and a breach of his civil rights. There is also a question over the criminal investigation process for Williams' case.

SLED confirms to News 12 they are investigating. The only incident report they have in this case is the one News 12 obtained.

News 12 talked with Lt. Bell on the phone today. He was the supervisor on duty. Lt. Bell confirmed in the conversation that he is under investigation by the state.

Of course, we'll continue to follow this investigation as it develops.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Eugene Location: Emaerald City on Nov 2, 2008 at 09:30 PM
And the Capt of patrol Division did know about the incident that day.. How, because he was out at the scene where the man got pistol whipped asking Bell what happened... And he did not do his job and make sure the proper paperwork was done either... Is is because he wanted it covered up also?... Sounds like it to me.. Why dont you ask the officers that were on scene if the Capt of patrol divsion was out there when all of this happened... I bet they will tell you YES !!! He should be just as guilty for NOT doing his job correctly and making sure the proper paperwork was done and video stored...

Posted by: N/A Location: North Augusta on Nov 1, 2008 at 09:33 PM
Hey just wanted to say cant wait to here the follow up on this, the comments made about this are so true. I hope we can break down the good ol boy department, and get back to having a police department that serve the citizens and public regardless of money, family and connections on the inside that have corrupted this department. Also the sooner Weatherington is gone too, I believe that there may be hope for the department in the future. Lets not let this as they say, get swepted under the rug.

Posted by: Heather Meadows Location: News 12 on Oct 29, 2008 at 04:33 PM
Gene Petriello will actually be following up on this story tomorrow...so stay tuned!

Posted by: concerned Location: NA on Oct 29, 2008 at 01:50 PM
So I guess nothing is going to come of this incident? It seems as if Bell is once again gonna get away with it huh? Why cant we follow up with this incident, is it possible that Bell has the media in his pocket along with everyone else that is supposed to be investigating this? Come on , basically its ok to knock a guys teeth out with the barrel of a gun right? Must be a line in the City's Policy written in fine print.

Posted by: N/A Location: North Augusta on Oct 23, 2008 at 08:43 PM
I would just like to add to the comment of the last posting regarding this officer Bell. I agree and think that this incident will get swept under the rug and the truth will never be revealed. Officer Bell will continue to "serve" the public. See he just got away with theft from the agency, stealing time on time sheets, when in fact he was'nt working. He was'nt called on it of course because when the time sheets were checked, they were ok. You know why? Because he was the one that did them. Just ask someone thats worked with him during that time, he only worked maybe one to three days, and got paid for fifteen to sixteen? How does that work? Again agreeing with the the last comments, he is a good ol boy and they made it dissappear. Ask him about his tree service he was conducting while working on the city payroll. What happened? Well again good ol boy, swept right under the old rug. Does this upset anyone else? Its just our tax dollars at work to pay for fine help like this.

Posted by: A Citizen Location: North Augusta on Oct 23, 2008 at 06:20 PM
I willing to bet that Bell will get out of this like he has gotten out of everything else. See what people dont know is that he is a good old boy and has family and relatives in high places including SLED, and the City Council of North Augusta, and other associates inside the agency that will cover up his actions. The truth is he is crooked and has never had to answer to any of his actions because of his so called connections in North Augusta. So tell me do you think its right? This is a fine example of why regular citizens like my self have no confidence in our Law Officers in North Augusta, because if you know the right people and have the right money, they make things dissappear. I just hope that the citizens of North Augusta will get their heads out of the sand and see the truth about this officer as well as the inside operation of the department. News 12 I hope that you will do a follow up regarding this incident, dont let it slip through the cracks.

Posted by: N/A Location: North Augusta on Oct 23, 2008 at 12:30 PM
I would just like to say that this Officer really needs to be investigated thoroughly. I guarantee that more incidents will be found that were swepted under the rug on this officer, as that is what the current administration of North Augusta Public Safety tends to do. I hope that someone from the outside can find out the truth about this officer, as well as the agency and start cleaning up the corrupt insiders of this agency.

Posted by: anon Location: sc on Oct 21, 2008 at 10:12 PM
this officer was a guest instructor at the criminal justice academy one time long ago and made sexual comments towards a female student who was married. he was also fired long ago from north augusta when he showed up to work intoxicated. i cant believe they hired him back; what a crooked agency. 12 needs to look into that also

Posted by: N/A on Oct 18, 2008 at 07:41 AM
I work in law enforcement with a different agency. I had first hand experience with this officer last year. Even though I was wrong and commited a crime this officer didn't have to do what he had done. He used force against me that should have not been used. Bruises were on my body for at least 5-7 days. I hope he gets what he has coming...

Posted by: dmoore on Oct 15, 2008 at 08:22 AM
Who do you think is writing in and taking up for the shoplifter that was trying to flee the scene of the crime? Other CRIMINALS. They don't like being stopped from what they want to do. These criminals trying to flee in their vehicle took no reguard to anyone elses safety but want to whine about their rights when they get hurt commiting a crime. What about the rights of the honest citizen? I pay for what I have and don't expect to have to pay higher prices for what these leeches take from us. I also don't expect to be endangered while someone is trying to flee a crime scene in the getaway vehicle. I hope North Augusta keeps doing whatever it takes to keep the scum off the streets and in jail where they belong.

Posted by: bulsh Location: aiken county on Oct 13, 2008 at 09:35 PM
Hey UNK! you're right he is a "person." But how do you know he didn't need to get hit by the police. There are alot of smartmouth idiots that need to be hit in the mouth, especially when they show complete disrespect for the law and the police. I say lets drug test the crack-head and if it's positive we send him away for about 10 years instead of raking another cop over the coals for doing his job. Is it just me, or are our local police getting soft and catering to the idiots?

Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 13, 2008 at 09:33 PM
UKN and NA Anonymous: If you were and officer, and you had your gun pulled on a subject after chasing them, and they were digging around under the seat, would you holster your gun and take the time to get the spray or tazer, no. You would simply react for your and your fellow officers safely.

Posted by: edward681 Location: N.A. on Oct 13, 2008 at 07:04 PM
UKN, How are you able to assume bell is guilty BEFORE all the facts are found and the investigation is complete? I suggest you take your crystal ball over to SLED show them the replay. IDIOT!

Posted by: UKN Location: HERE on Oct 13, 2008 at 12:50 PM
THIS IS FOR THE STUPID IDIOTS THAT SAY HE GOT WHAT HE DESERVE,THIS IS A PERSON HE DID NOT DESERVE TO BE HIT BY THE POLICE, WE PAY THEM TO PROTECT AND SERVE, NOT TO HURT AND KILL, THIS GOES TO SHOW YOU HOW INGORANT AMERICANS ARE, ALWAYS JUDING BY THE COLOR OF ONE SKIN, THIS JERK SHOULD BE DISMISSED AND SO SHOULD HIS CAPTAIN, AND ALL THE REST WHO THINK THE GOB RULES GODS LAND.

Posted by: upos Location: N.A. on Oct 13, 2008 at 12:03 AM
And it only took this thug 15 months to cook up a get rich scam. See what crack does to the brain!

Posted by: NA Anonymous Location: NA on Oct 12, 2008 at 10:50 PM
SO i guess its allright to hit people in the mouth with your gun when they resist arrest. what ever happened to peper spray or that new Tazer they just had to have to prevent stuff like this from happening. i can't beleive they are keeping him on the job with pay, if this had been the sheriff's office he would have been fired by now. i guess it's ok to keep people who use un-reasonable force on the job. don't worry citzens, he will be back on the job patrolling soon and i'm sure you will feel much safer.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: na on Oct 12, 2008 at 03:47 PM
eugene. what makes you think the captain knew about it? he goes through every report done every day. reads them all. I have seen the actual report done on this case. no where is robbie bells name mentioned. no use of force report was done. yes, it seems that lt. bell was trying to cover it up and not filling out proper paperwork, but the capt. didn't have any reason to look into anything because he never saw anything. and the whole department is not corrupt, its their chief. he started that GOB think, and in February i believe north augusta will be headed in for forward and good direction

Posted by: hater Location: north augusta on Oct 12, 2008 at 02:29 PM
Robert Bell is about the worst officer at North Augusta. He is the biggest stuck up the chiefs butt and he sucks as a Lt. Hope you are fired hero.

Posted by: john Location: na on Oct 12, 2008 at 12:34 AM
where ther is smoke there is fire. this is not the first time for mr. bell using too much force. believe me people need to look deeper into this. this is what happens when you let certian people hunt on family land.

Posted by: eugene Location: emerald city on Oct 11, 2008 at 07:51 PM
How about this happened 15 months ago.. and the capt of patrol division knew about it and tried to cover it up. That police department is so corrupt !!! IF you are a good ol boy you can do anything you want. However if you are not in the GOB you get screwed. But SLED couldn't be investigating a nicer person... lol HA HA HA Good luck Robbie. Can you say "Would you like fries with this?" and the Capt should be looking for a new job also. He knew of the wrongs that have been done by Robbie and many other officers and has done nothing about them over the years. Time for Sam Bennett to clean house and get rid of the Good ol Boy System.

Posted by: UFB Location: AUG on Oct 11, 2008 at 07:39 PM
When you fight with the police, don't be surprised if you get hurt.

Posted by: susane Location: NA, SC on Oct 10, 2008 at 09:05 PM
He probably needed to get beaten. If he stole a car, what else would he do? People always assume the police officers are guilty! The police officers are here to help you not hurt you!!!! Had the suspect not broken the law he certainly would not have required a bandage.

Posted by: perry on Oct 10, 2008 at 08:07 PM
criminals have too many rights!!!

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