County resident request SCBC require County Marshals to wear body cameras

A Stephens County man is asking the Stephens County Board of Commissioners to require the County Marshals to wear body cameras.

Bill Stephens came before the Board of Commissioners last week during the public comment section.

Stephens says the County Marshals have been harassing a local family who are disabled.

“I’m here today because I’m broken hearted about what I’ve learned in the last six weeks. I understand that you have ordinances, and I respect that you have ordinances; but there’s a common-sense way to do things. Instead of just jumping out there with a County Marshal and thinking they can just write citations. Do a little investigating first and see what the problem is. This family is disabled. The man has serious CPO, High Blood Pressure, stomach lining eat up, hernias, other health problems. The mother is disabled. The 20-year-old son is very overweight and a serious diabetic, with high blood pressure and other health issues. The 14-year-old son…is very autistic. The Government Social Security just give him $794 Social Security Disability but being he’s a minor they give it to his daddy to manage,” he said.

Stephens continued to explain that the County Marshals have told the family different things each time they go out to the family’s property.

“Now, the State of Georgia just took their Food Stamps away. Last Tuesday, that family called a single widowed lady in this county, asking for $30 to buy food with. They had no groceries ‘cause they lost their food stamps at no fault of theirs. The county has hacked them and hacked them for three months. I understand the yard was ugly, I struggled at my age, with Agent Orange like I have and other health issues Friday until I ‘bout passed out. I got a group of volunteers up, we worked over there Saturday. Commissioner Bell has seen the photos, Commissioner Whitlock has seen the photos. That front yard is spotless. The first County Marshal told them, three or four months ago, to move everything to the back yard and line them up–the lawnmowers. That 20-year-old tries to piddle on lawnmowers, when he can. We done that,” he said.

Stephens says he and a group of volunteers raised money to put up a privacy fence for the family, but the Marshal stopped them before they could put it up.

“We raised a bunch of money and decided to put up a privacy fence, around the back yard, the County didn’t ask us to do that, but we decided to do it. I raised a bunch of money, me and some ladies did. Home Depot was going to give us 20 percent discount on the material. I was going to get volunteers to help me put it up, but no, another different County Marshal come out Friday and stopped me. They told me a stack of firewood, that they heat with, was debris. They call a stack of split fire wood debris on the phone with me Thursday, and again in public,” he said.

Stephens told the Commission that he had support from Stephens County Commissioners Dennis Bell and Debbie Whitlock.

“I’m with Commissioner Bell. This he said she say stuff don’t get it. They come out and tell these poor people that’s illiterate, very poor, things that they don’t understand. I agree with Commissioner Bell that the County Marshals should have cameras where they ain’t no lies then,” he said.

After Stephens comment, Chairperson Michelle Ivester told him the three-minute time limit was up; prompting Stephens to walk off saying Bell and Whitlock were the only respectful commissioners on the board.

Ivester then spoke out against Stephens saying she hadn’t been disrespectful to him.

Vice Chair James Addison also spoke out against Stephens’ remarks about calling the commissioners.

“Thank you, Dennis and thank you, Debbie. You and Dennis are the only two that were respectful,” Stephens said.

“I’m sorry, I haven’t been disrespectful to you,” Ivester said.

“You haven’t even called me. Don’t put my name in something I’m not in, sir,” Addison said.

“I don’t want to call you, I’ve got no use for you,” Stephens said.

“That’s good,” Addison said.

Following Stephens comments the Commission chose not to discuss it further.