Greenwood Resident Accuses Law Enforcement of Excessive Force in 2021 Incident

Greenwood Man Files Lawsuit Against Local Law Enforcement Over 2021 Incident

Greenwood, SC – On December 27, a resident of Greenwood, A’Dwan Gilchrist, has taken legal action against multiple local law enforcement agencies over an incident that occurred in December 2021. This lawsuit stakes claims of excessive force used by an officer during a traffic stop.

The Incident

The complaint details the beginning of this tumultuous encounter near the corner of Pearl Street and Reynolds Avenue. Officer Cameron Middleton reportedly observed Gilchrist making an improper turn and attempted to stop him. However, Gilchrist, fearing for his safety, chose to flee the scene, stating that he “felt compelled to do so as a matter of self-preservation.”

In efforts to apprehend Gilchrist, deputies from the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office deployed spike strips on Highway 10, successfully disabling his car. Despite this, Gilchrist continued to flee on foot, prompting Middleton to fire his pistol at Gilchrist. According to the lawsuit, Gilchrist did not possess any firearm nor did he pose any risk of serious bodily harm or death at the time. Hence, the firing by Middleton is argued as unjustified use of lethal force.

Investigation and Aftermath

Immediately after the shooting, the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) was called in to investigate, an action that follows the standard procedure when police shootings occur at the request of involved agencies. The SLED news release from 2021 stated that Gilchrist was indeed hit by the shot and subsequently taken to a hospital for medical treatment.

Lawsuit Details

In the filed complaint, Gilchrist accuses the involved law enforcement agencies and officers of improperly hiring, training, or disciplining officers, asserting that these deficiencies directly led to the incident. The lawsuit names the Greenwood Police Department, the county sheriff’s office, Police Chief T.J. Chaudoin, Sheriff Dennis Kelly, and policeman Cameron Middleton as defendants.

As of the latest update, an official answer to the complaint has not yet been filed by any of the defendants. However, Police Chief Chaudoin has remarked that the police department plans a vigorous defense against the claims made by Gilchrist. Chaudoin also voiced his anticipation to present their version of events in court. Meanwhile, Sheriff Dennis Kelly has declined to comment, clearly choosing to refrain from discussing ongoing litigation publicly.

Next Steps

The case is slated to undergo an alternative dispute resolution in July, a method often employed to reach settlements without proceeding to a full court trial.

As this case unfolds, we’ll keep you posted with the latest developments. Stay tuned for more updates as they come in.