Offensive Patrol Car Recording Released
Alternative content
Offensive Patrol Car Recording Released
Wesley Powell resigned after authorities say he used profanity, sexual comments and racial slurs during a cell phone conversation that was recorded by video equipment in his patrol car on July 2nd....
Wesley Powell resigned after authorities say he used profanity, sexual comments and racial slurs during a cell phone conversation that was recorded by video equipment in his patrol car.
(Augusta) - On July second Deputy Wesley Powell made a traffic stop. It’ was recorded by the dash cam in the patrol car and investigators say the stop is handled perfectly and by the book. However, seconds after Powell gets back in his patrol car things take a turn.
According to a disciplinary report Powell leaves the camera on and the microphone inside the vehicle is still on when he gets a call on his cell phone. Powell’s side of the conversation is recorded.
Here he describes a traffic stop he made involving an African American woman.
Powell: “I got this girl the other day. She had a d*** little n***** in the backseat. This thing wasn’t even old enough to crawl yet. I know she didn’t have seatbelt on neither. I was going to give her a verbal warning you know, strap that monkey in the backseat. You got a booster seat back there, put that monkey in the booster seat.
On the tape Powell uses profanity, racial slurs and makes sexual comments.
Powell: “Not only am I going to sexually assault her. I’m going f*** her with the d*** barrel of my d*** glock.”
The conversation was discovered on September 16th by the solicitor’s office when the DVD was being played by a defense attorney looking for a traffic stop made that day. The DVD was then brought to the attention of the Sheriff’s office and then to Internal affairs.
The entire conversation lasts 15 minutes.
Powell: “If you hadn’t been out here running your ignorant a** Mouth you’d been on your way to wherever the f*** you’re going to buy your crack, have another baby by an illegitimate father or some other kind of sh**.”
In 2003 Powell had been disciplined for making a racist statement to an inmate. He was suspended for a day.
The 30-year-old resigned before Internal Affairs could take the recording to a review board.
Powell: “How you doing a**hole. How much of a fine do ya’ll want today?”
Advertisement
Reader Reactions
I was so offended by this man’s verbal actions that it had my stomach in knots. I think he got off too easy. A full investigation and possible criminal charges should warrant. Not to mention pulling his cell phone records to see exactly to whom he was speaking. I am so scared for black men and women when you have people of this nature in positions of power and control. It is absolutely intolerable! This makes me wonder how many other officers feel that way that he does. You can not tell me or any other person of intelligence that he was the only one. To all people of color I warn you to be careful when dealing with Richmond County Law Enforcement. Treat them all as if they convey this man’s sentiments. Be careful and keep your mouth’s shut. If you feel that you have had your civil rights violated, get a lawyer! If you have had any legitimate dealings with this man and you felt that you were accousted in any way, file complaint after complaint until something is done. Just because he resigned does not mean you have no rights. It is a shame that we are still living in the dark ages of the past with racisim hanging over our heads. Shame on the officer and shame on the person who allowed him to carry on this conversation and shame on the Richmond County Sheriff’s Department.
I am not surprised—and quite frankly, I don’t see how anyone else is either. This type of stuff goes on a whole lot more than the “0.1%“ many would have us think. Mr. Powell should be brought up on charges for making terroristic threats. It is a shame this “upholder of the law” could be so guilty of the crime of racism. Just think of what we haven’t seen…
At the beginning of the video, he says something like “hold on let me catch up to you.“ that leads me to believe he’s talking to another deputy. so, powell has resigned, but how many deputies are left in the department that feels the same way he does? how many other complaints have been given a blind eye?
Im not going as far to say it was the cheif all i’m going to say is when i called in to make a complaint and asked to speak to his supervisor a call was returned from a gentleman stating he was his superviser
With whom was the officer speaking for this 15 minutes conversation? Could it have been the Chief of Police who regarded the officer so highly?
It’s funny how less than three months ago i called in a complaint on officer Wesley Powel to his supervisor that i felt like he was being racist to my fiance even though he made the call about property of his that was stolen an sold to a junk yard in augusta he treated my fiance like the criminal and threaten to put him in jail but his supervisor said I quote “ he’s one of the best officers i have he’s never had any complaints” its funny how things come back to bite you in the behind.Because that same officer was the officer who signed my fiance’s sisters name to a accident report which his supervisor was made aware of
They should have fired him. He acted if he was the best thing that Richmond County hired. I knew it was going to caught up with him because he always say he was not racist, but the video showed other wise. This is what Richmond County is now hiring,people that hide behind the badge in order to hide their true colors. I am glad he is no longer working along side the ones that try to bridge the gap between racism.
Advertisement