An ongoing internal affairs investigation into the conduct of a Greenville County sheriff deputy linked to the ongoing Thornblade saga was a “farce”, according to several sources familiar with this so-called “investigation”. Furthermore, the sheriff’s captain who runs this department has a history of questionable behavior …
What kind of behavior? The kind our sources say could obscure their judgment when it comes to assessing alleged ethical lapses within this scandalous department
Why does it matter?
In addition to the obvious potential for hypocrisy in the daily supervision of professional integrity within the Greenville County sheriff’s office, several leaders of this agency are currently under investigation by agents from the SC State Law Enforcement Division (SLED).
In addition, the newly elected sheriff – Hobart Lewis – seems to have its own problems (as well as its political benefactor).
And don’t tell us about the drama surrounding Lewis’s predecessor in office (ex-sheriff Will Lewis)… Most of them broke exclusively on our 2017-2019 pages.
What a mess, guys …
Anyway, a week ago this media reported that the sheriff’s office had launched an internal investigation into the proximity of one of its officers to the various scandals involving the prestigious Thornblade Club – a luxury neighborhood organization that annually hosts an important golf tournament sponsored by BMW.
What scandals? Good question … because when it comes to Thornblade, there is obviously no shortage of choice.
As we reported exclusively on July 23, 2020, allegations of serious financial irregularities shook this club – which led to an investigation by the U.S. Secret Service (USSS), an agency that has broad jurisdictional authority over “cyber financial crimes”. Meanwhile, much more serious (and lewd) allegations involving the Thornblade club are being investigated by agents from the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) special investigative unit – including the alleged activities of a group of men who apparently refer 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.
As for the sheriff’s internal affairs investigation, he allegedly sought to determine whether the deputy in question had not reported to superiors his alleged knowledge of alleged illegal activity – including the dissemination of sexually explicit material to minors.
Unfortunately, it seems that the internal affairs inquiry has done very little “inquiries …”
According to our sources, this “investigation” consisted of two interviews – one with a source who alleged improper conduct by a deputy Michael Douglas and a second interview with Douglas himself. When the two narratives offered by the accuser and Douglas failed to reconcile, the sheriff’s office concluded that it was the accuser’s word against the deputy’s and “gave up”.
Douglas has already been cleared by internal affairs, we were told, but he can still be questioned by federal agents who continue to investigate any number of allegations connected with Thornblade.
(Click to view)
(Via: Facebook)
Not everyone is satisfied with the results of Douglas’s investigation of internal affairs (above) … as it was.
“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.
The Douglas case was referred to the sheriff’s office by the DHS Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) unit, our sources say. In other words, the individual who accused Douglas of misconduct did not contact the sheriff’s office directly about the situation – but you have been called in for questioning in internal affairs on the recommendation of another law enforcement agency.
This adds some seriousness to the allegations, in our opinion.
What did Douglas supposedly do wrong?
We don’t know … although, as we noted in our previous coverage, he is a “family friend” of Greenville, SC insurance marketing executive Rick Mathews and his ex-wife Jennifer Mathews – who 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.
On Tuesday, September 1, 2020, we reported that Rick Mathews had been interviewed the previous Tuesday (August 25, 2020) by HSI agents. Two days later, Mathews issued a statement through his attorney confirming our account.
“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, 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.
The investigators were also “looking to interview several current students and alumni of Eastside High School – as well as several current employees and alumni of the Thornblade Club,” according to one of our previous reports.
(Click to view)
(Via: Text)
While the Thornblade rumor was approaching a crescendo last week due to what appears to have been an unrelated suicide, this media was busy investigating tips we received about the captain Tim Brown – who runs the Greenville Sheriff’s “professional standards office”.
Aka the internal affairs…
According to our sources, Brown and two of the deputies responsible for the ongoing scorecard scandal at the agency – Darius Hall and deputy chief Marcus Davenport – were observed in some compromising situations together.
In particular, all three reportedly attended a recreational vehicle that hosted some particularly wild parties at the University of South Carolina in recent years.
Obviously, we have nothing against police officers venting and enjoying their freedom with other consenting adults, but this vehicle – dubbed the “explosion bus” – has been linked to some of the same questionable conduct that allegedly occurred at the Thornblade club.
Specifically, a witness claims to have seen several leaders in the Greenville sheriff’s department “shooting underage girls and staying in the back (of the bus) with them”.
The witness said that Brown and several other deputies were “giving drink (out) and allowing minors to drink” and that Brown was seen on more than one occasion going “to the back room” of the girls’ recreational vehicle.
Another witness supported this statement.
“I personally witnessed – from outside – the party and I can confirm what you said,” said the second witness. “All the men who partied there were high-ranking deputies from the GCSO and all the women who entered the RV were young and blond. Most deputies were married, but none of them brought their wife with them. They celebrated a lot and it was no secret what was going on there. “
There are also allegations of cases with subordinates linked to the professional standards office … which would be ironic, considering that such relationships fall within the very type of conduct that the agency should be investigating.
To be clear: Douglas was not linked to any of the “explosive bus” allegations – nor was he accused of any alleged relationship with subordinates.
Still, the behavior attributed to those charged with investigating his conduct is deeply disturbing … and raises additional questions about the integrity of this position under Lewis’ “leadership”.
This news outlet will continue to investigate all of these angles as we seek to get to the bottom of what really happened on Thornblade. In the meantime, we would encourage SLED to expand its current investigation of police misconduct at the Greenville County sheriff’s office to include a review of the leadership of the professional liability office.
Clearly, watchdogs also need to be watched …
-FITSNews
*****
WANT TO TURN OFF THE SOUND?
Is there anything you would like to say in response to one of our stories? We have an open mic policy! Send your own letter to the editor (or guest column) via email HERE. Do you have a tip for a story? CLICK HERE. Have a technical question or failure to report? CLICK HERE. Do you want to help support what we are doing? SUBSCRIBE HERE.
Flag: Greenville County Sheriff