Home Local News Crowd protests abuse by law enforcement

Crowd protests abuse by law enforcement

Diamond Wall speaks about what she considers harassment, frivolous charges and excessive bail that she and family members have experienced in Richmond County.
William R. Toler - Richmond Observer

ROCKINGHAM — Several people gathered outside the old Richmond County courthouse Saturday afternoon for a rally in support of a man who was arrested and tazed at a football game last Friday night and to protest what they see as injustice in the system.

They believe Stephen Sings, of Charlotte, was wrongfully arrested by a sheriff’s deputy when he asked why his son had been arrested earlier.

Sings was live streaming his encounter on Facebook when he approached the deputy, who refused to answer his question. When Sings told the deputy that it was the law officer’s “duty” to talk him, the deputy told Sings to put his hands behind his back.

Sings protested and a scuffle ensued. Sings was tazed multiple times and two of the five deputies involved wound up with cuts and bruises, according to court documents.

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After spending the weekend in jail on a dozen charges under a $150,000 secured bond, he was released Monday following his first appearance and a bond reduction to $15,000 unsecured.

Several attendees shared their own stories of encounters with local law enforcement, giving accounts of abuse, harassment and frivolous charges.

Below are several photos from the rally. The Richmond Observer will have more on this later.

 

Photos by William R. Toler and Charlie Melvin



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