Blacksburg police vehemently deny claims made in complaint to SLED

Ledger Staff Writer

A Blacksburg man has filed a complaint with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) in which he claims his son was a victim of police brutality earlier this month.

The claims are disputed by Blacksburg police and a neighbor who witnessed the man’s arrest. “We have received the request,” said Katherine Richardson of SLED. “We’re seeking legal advice as to how to proceed.”

Gary Ralph Maynor Sr. and his son Gary Ralph Maynor Jr. were in a vehicle in Blacksburg traveling along Charleston Street on Feb. 3 when they were stopped by Blacksburg police after being recognized as being two men wanted by police. A check for active warrants confirmed that both men were wanted by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department.

“This is the first I’ve heard about it, but I welcome an investigation,” Blacksburg Police Chief Jamie Ham said. “I believe if SLED investigates, additional charges could be made against the perpetrator. There is easily accessible material that can refute what (Maynor Sr.) is saying.”

Maynor Jr. was wanted on a Family Court bench warrant for a child support violation. Maynor Sr. was wanted for a bad check charge. He was told he could turn himself in the next day.

Maynor Sr. is alleging police detained his son without arresting him or handcuffing him for approximately 40 minutes, after which time his son ran from officers.

Officer Carl Clark said he was the senior officer on the shift that evening and witnessed the entire incident.

“There was no physical punching or kneeing,” Clark said. “I don’t understand where these allegations are coming from.”

Clark said they detained Maynor Jr. while waiting for the warrant to be verified. Once the warrant was “in hand,” meaning another officer retrieved the document from police files, the warrant was confirmed and officer Paul Wilkins attempted to place Maynor Jr. in handcuffs.

“Once he heard the warrants were in hand, Officer Wilkins went to handcuff him and (Maynor Jr.) said, ‘I’m not going back to jail’,” Clark said. “That’s when he jerked away and the foot chase started.”

Clark said Ham was driving through town and witnessed the chase and stopped in an attempt to help his officers. When he arrived, Clark and Wilkins had their guns drawn on Maynor Jr., who was kneeling despite being told to lay flat on the ground. Clark said Ham pushed the boy to the ground, but did not use excessive physical force to do so, and then handcuffed Maynor Jr.

The father claims the chief did use excessive force while apprehending his son. He also said his son’s physician said Maynor Jr. will need surgery to correct injuries suffered in the incident.

Wilkins injured his shoulder. He has been out of work while undergoing therapy.

A neighbor who lived near the scene of the arrest at Charleston and Pine streets in Blacksburg said he didn’t see anything like what was described in the complaint.

“The only thing I saw was the arrest,” said Heyward Porter. “I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary. I didn’t see any rough treatment.”

The father claims Ham took his knee and hit Maynor Jr. in the back five times before grabbing him by the hair and rubbing his face in the ground.

“I didn’t see anything like that,” Porter continued.

When asked why he thinks the police chief would use excessive force against his son, Maynor Sr. replied, “I just don’t think he liked my son for some reason.”

Maynor Sr. further claims that prior to his son’s arrest, Ham used the police department radio to tell his officers twice not to put handcuffs on Maynor Jr. because he was going to flee from police.

“At about 5:25 p.m. the officer placed handcuffs on me, Gary Sr.,” he states in the complaint. “I stood there for about 10 minutes and I heard Jamie Ham come across the radio, don’t cuff Jr., he’s going to run.”

Maynor Sr. questioned why the officers didn’t put his son in handcuffs right away.

A copy of a 9-1-1 tape disputes that claim. Blacksburg police were using their police radios in an attempt to contact the police chief, but were unable to do so. Ham is not heard speaking on the 9-1-1 tape.

Maynor Jr. has been arrested more than 10 times since 1996 for charges including criminal domestic violence, forgery, 1st-degree burglary, receiving stolen goods, driving under suspension, and possession of marijuana, according to police records.