Location: North Carolina
Co-Counsel: Micheal Littlejohn (Littlejohn Law PLLC)
Case Summary:
On March 2, 2023, Gary Thomas and his elderly aunt Ms. Mary Moore were both violently assaulted by former Washington County Sheriff’s Deputy Aaron Edwards on camera. Edwards dragged a handcuffed Mr. Thomas across the parking lot and threw him down a set of stairs before slamming him into a brick wall. Edwards also punched Ms. Moore in the face as she tried to record the incident before grabbing her around her neck and pushing her inside the jail. As public pressure mounted, Washington County fired Edwards. But they have not explained why they hired him even though he was fired from previous law enforcement jobs for egregious misconduct or why they ignored multiple community complaints documenting his propensity to use excessive force.
There are far too many dangerous police officers like Edwards that float from one agency to another without consequences and far too many departments like Washington County’s Sheriff’s Office that ignore red flags and hire them. NPAP hopes to hold Edwards accountable and encourage other law enforcement agencies to do a better job screening and disciplining dangerous officers like him.
In the News:
- Deputy beats handcuffed man and drags his limp body inside NC courthouse, lawsuit says | The News & Observer
- Eastern NC deputy fired after violent arrest was a ‘wandering officer’ | Carolina Public Press
Case Filing: