Two months ago, this news outlet published a long report raising questions about a so-called “internal investigation” conducted by the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office in South Carolina.
The focus of this investigation? Congressperson Michael Douglas – who was accused of not reporting to his superiors certain intimate information he allegedly obtained about the Thornblade saga, a confluence of obscene scandals involving an upscale Greenville neighborhood and its affiliated country club.
According to our sources, Douglas has been informed of alleged illegal activities – including the dissemination of sexually explicit material to minors – which is in some way connected to this soap opera from the interior of the state.
At the request of one of the federal agencies investigating these scandals, Douglas was interviewed by the “professional standards office” of the Greenville sheriff (OPS) – which is (or was) led by the captain Tim Brown.
Did Brown take the case seriously? Not according to our sources …
We are told that his “investigation” consisted of precisely two interviews – one with a source who alleged Douglas’ misconduct and a second interview with Douglas himself. When the narratives offered by the accuser and Douglas did not reconcile, the sheriff’s office concluded that it was the accuser’s word versus that of the deputy – and “dropped” the subject.
“It was an absolute scam,” said one of our sources, saying that the department “refused to interview” at least two individuals who could clarify the allegations.
In fact, this media outlet recently obtained documents from a law enforcement source indicating that Douglas had contact with at least one of the individuals at the center of the ongoing investigation into Thornblade (and its related scandals) – which is currently being led by the U.S. Special investigations unit (HSI) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
In addition to refusing to conduct follow-up interviews, Brown’s office refused to ask questions about the information provided by his office, we were told …
Now, Brown is no longer at his post.
What happened to the law veteran? His current status with the agency is unclear, but we confirm that Brown was placed on administrative leave earlier this month and removed from his post for internal affairs.
Other sources tell us that he is no longer at the agency …
“Table clear,” a source from the sheriff’s office told us.
Is anyone identifying a pattern here?
We are currently investigating what may have led to this abrupt jolt – in addition to seeking clarification about Brown’s current situation. Of course, we rarely get answers from the sheriff’s office – even when we submit our requests under the state’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) laws.
For now, however, it is not immediately clear whether the decision to remove Brown from his internal affairs position had anything to do with Douglas’s situation, the ongoing sheriff’s scandal card scam or perhaps … anything else.
As we noted in our recent report on the failed investigation of internal affairs, Brown and several other officers were observed together in what can be charitably described as compromising situations at the University of South Carolina, at unused parties in Columbia, SC
Specifically, witnesses told us that Brown and several other deputies were observed “giving drink (out) and allowing minors to drink” at parties held on a so-called “explosion bus” – a recreational vehicle owned by Brown.
As we continue to investigate the latest jolt in the scandal-scarred sheriff’s office, what’s the latest Thornblade news?
According to our sources, the two federal investigations that we reported on previously are still ongoing – and law firms in and around Greenville are said to be accumulating large retainers in an effort to keep clients out of trouble (and out of the newspapers).
Speaking of newspapers, the sources tell us The Greenville News has investigated several of the allegations we reported on previously … although it is not yet known when (or if) the newspaper will make a report.
Reporters at the Greenville branch told us The (Charleston, SC) Post and Courier are investigating the charges as well.
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COMPLETE COVERAGE: THE THORNBLADE SAGA
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To recap: as we reported exclusively on July 23, 2020, allegations of serious financial irregularities shook the Thornblade club earlier this year – leading to an investigation by the United States Secret Service (USSS), an agency that has broad jurisdictional authority about “cyber-enabled financial crimes. “Meanwhile, much more serious allegations involving the club are being investigated by HSI agents – including the alleged activities of a group of men who apparently refer to themselves as” The Disciples “.
According to our sources, the members of this secret club would pay an estimate $ 5,000 for $ 10,000 a month to enjoy their “amenities” – including antics with young sexual partners provided by nearby schools.
On August 25, 2020, HSI agents interviewed Greenville, SC insurance marketing executive Rick Mathews – whose ex-wife Jennifer Mathews runs a yoga and pilates studio in Greenville.
The Mathews have been at the center of speculation related to the Thornblade saga for some time.
Rick Mathews issued a statement through his lawyer, confirming that he had been questioned in connection with the investigation.
“I found out at the end of June this year that my wife, Jennifer Mathews, had been involved in various extramarital activities,” said Mathews in the statement. “Upon learning of this fact, we separated and I filed for divorce in July.”
Mathews added that he was aware that “there is an investigation being conducted” and that, although he “was not suspected of any illegal activity, I am fully cooperating with law enforcement and will continue to do so”.
In addition to Mathews’ and Deputy Douglas, HSI agents have also been asking questions about Brian Gem Garrison – a former assistant tennis coach in Eastside High School in Taylors, SC, who was arrested and charged with contributing to a juvenile’s delinquency last spring.
Garrison, incidentally, was widely referenced in a recent lawsuit against the Greenville County school district. According to this process (.pdf), the trainer was protected in his supposedly predatory activities by the Eastside athletics director Scott Erwin.
“Erwin allowed Garrison, a single man who lived alone, to regularly participate in Eastside baseball practice and games, to be on the field and on the bench with players, knowing that Garrison had developed relationships with students and was spending time with players baseball and other students without adult supervision, ”the suit said.
The suit – filed on behalf of a minor John Doe by his unidentified parents – further claimed that Erwin “knew that Garrison provided alcohol, JUULs and other steam contraband to student Eastside athletes”.
He also allegedly provided a student with “a secret iPhone to secretly communicate with Garrison”.
Leading media outlets in Greenville reported the lawsuit filed against the school district, however, they have not yet linked to the HSI investigation or the various allegations related to Thornblade.
One thing is quite clear, however: The Greenville sheriff’s office continues to suffer from a serious credibility deficiency.
A possible reason? The leader of this agency – devout social conservative Hobart Lewis – has been too busy paying political debts and engaging in his own questionable behavior to provide this agency with the kind of leadership it clearly needs.
Of course, you can’t say we didn’t warn you …
-FITSNews
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Flag: Greenville County Sheriff’s Office