An attorney for a former Greenville Police officer says allegations that his client abused homeless people are blown out of proportion.
"My client doesn't think he has done anything wrong," said Ryan Beasley, an attorney representing one of the accused officers. "I just hope everything, the truth comes out, that it was embellished stories and not as big of a story as everyone thinks it's going to be."
Beasley would not go into details of exactly what happened. It's now a truth that SLED, the FBI and Department of Justice are trying to find. SLED Director Reggie Lloyd says they are investigating allegations of the mistreatment of homeless people by four Greenville Police officers. The four officers have since resigned.
SLED Director Reggie Lloyd says his office was asked to look into allegations that the officers beat homeless people by Greenville Police Chief Terri Wilfong. Lloyd has asked the FBI to become involved because of possible civil rights violations.
"The allegations, if true, are very disturbing," said Lloyd. "In situations where you have police officers allegedly misusing their badge so to speak to restrain someone improperly, or potentially exert physical violence against someone, that's proper. That could trigger civil rights statutes."
Lloyd said the allegations were brought to light by people within the Police department.
Wilfong would not confirm the allegations, but said they wasted no time in questioning the officers involved.
"They've tarnished our badge," Wilfong said. "They've given us a bad name and the rest of us are going to have to pay for it, cause they're no longer here."
One of the officers told News Channel 7's Melissa Keeney that the allegations were "completely" false. He says he stepped down because he was tired of being accused of something he didn't do.
"I want to assure the community not to lose trust," Wilfong said.
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