WILMINGTON — The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office absolved an unidentified deputy for his use of force in an incident that resulted in the violent arrest of a mentally ill man last year.
During the medical arrest, a New Hanover County Sheriff’s deputy punched a mentally ill man multiple times in the face, according to video footage of the November 2018 incident. The man was also physical toward officers arresting him.
The man, Hiram Farmer, had not committed a crime. Before the medial arrest, his mother sought an involuntary commitment order, which a judge granted, to have her son transported to the hospital to receive medical treatment. (Catch up on full details on what happened in our in-depth write-up, here).
Before the November 2018 arrest, New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office (NHCSO) had a familiarity with Hiram, noting his propensity for violence, according to an NHCSO spokesperson. While officers attempted to take Hiram into custody, he appeared to wrap his leg around a deputy, according to video footage, and bit a deputy, according to NHCSO spokesperson Lt. Jerry Brewer.
After footage of Hiram’s arrest — (a caution to readers, the video contains explicit language and violence) — made rounds on social media, Brewer said the NHCSO stood by the deputies use of force. At the time, Brewer said punching is an acceptable tactic in a deputies’ force continuum. He declined to provide the deputies name.
When asked on Thursday whether the NHCSO took any internal action in response to the Nov. 13, 2018 incident, Brewer said the deputies’ actions didn’t violate policy.
“All use of force are reviewed by Internal Affairs Unit, this case was reviewed and it was determined that the Deputy actions did not violate any NHSO policy or procedures,” Brewer wrote in an email.
Send tips and comments to Johanna Ferebee at johanna@localvoicemedia.com
