News 12 First at Five; November 17, 2008

NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. --- The state and local investigation into North Augusta DPS Officer Robbie Bell is complete. There were 5 officers involved in this case and News 12 has learned at least 1 suspension was handed down.

News 12 learning the SLED investigation into Officer Bell is complete. We are waiting on word from SLED on the findings of this investigation. They were investigating Officer Bell for excessive use of force while on the job. We have filed a Freedom of Information Act from asking for that information. We have done the same with North Augusta's Human Resources Department. We expect to know specifics of any suspensions by the middle of this week.

News 12 has been following this investigation since it broke in October. We were the first to report the investigation, which involved allegations that Officer Robbie Bell hit Joseph Williams in the mouth with the butt of his gun back in June of 2007. Williams alleges this happened after he was a passenger in a car that was being chased for stealing TV's from the North Augusta Walmart.

Joseph says he had the receipt to prove that he bought the TV. But officers say one of the 2 TV's found in the car was, in fact, stolen.

News 12 has exclusively reported that dash cam videos of several officers on the scene of the arrest are not available. We've also exclusively reported on missing paperwork in the case.

Again, we do know there has been at least one suspension handed down in this case. We have filed the documents needed to find out the specifics of this suspension. Stay tuned to News 12 for the latest.