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Vol. 143, No. 40 - Waynesboro, Ga. 30830 Established in 1882 Wednesday, November 22, 2023 - $1.00
Deputy cleared in taser death incident
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
The District Attorney’s office is
not pursing criminal charges against
the deputy who tased Freddie Walker
four times,
Shortly after midnight Friday,
July 28, the Burke County EMA
requested the assistance of the Burke
County Sheriff’s Office when Walker
refused to be transported by a family
member to a hospital for a mental
health evaluation. During the inci
dent, Walker was tased four times by
Deputy Tyler May in an approximate
2 minute and 20 second timeframe.
Walker was pronounced dead at
Burke Flealth hospital.
The following day, Sheriff Alfonzo
Williams announced in an approxi
mately nine-minute prerecorded
message that the Columbia County
Force Investigation Team would
conduct an “unbiased,” “thorough”
and “complete” investigation. He
stated the BCSO recognized that
people, often with underlying medi
cal conditions, across the country,
have died after being tased. He
promised to release all the details
surrounding the incident, including
full body camera footage, after the
investigation was completed. How
ever, he did not provide them.
Deputy Zakia Luke and Deputy
May were involved in regular sched
uled days off after the incident and
were not put on leave pending the
results.
In August, the Investigative Sum
mary was turned over to District
Attorney Jared Williams’ office for
review. Open record requests for
the Columbia County findings and
BCSO body camera footage were de
nied until the review was complete.
Jared Williams did not issue a press
release announcing his decision not
to send the case to a Grand Jury.
An open records request last week
revealed the Columbia County Force
Investigation Team concluded there
was no violation of Georgia Law
and the deputies’ use of force was
justified under O.C.G.A 16-3-21.
The statute pertains to use of force
in defense of self or others; evidence
of belief that force was necessary in
murder or manslaughter prosecution.
The law states “a person is justified
in using force which is intended or
likely to cause death or great bodily
harm only if he or she reasonably
believes that such force
SEE
is necessary to prevent
death or great bodily in- TASED,
jury to himself or herself 8
The BCSO recognized Deputy
May as (Road Patrol) deputy of
the year in 2022 and Detention
Center employee of the year in
2018.
B urke County’s littlest cooks had a ton of great ideas on how to prepare the best Thanksgiving feast
around. While many told us how to catch and cook a turkey, others provided us with alternatives
alongside some interesting side dishes. They also showed us how to incorporate everyday items
into our recipes. Here are some of our favorites from around the county:
MAYOR RUNOFF
Early voting set to begin
Waynesboro voters will soon
choose between Incumbent Mayor
Bill Tinley and Vice-mayor James
Chick Jones.
Early voting for the Waynesboro
mayor runoff election begins Mon
day, November 27 and runs through
December 1. Early voting hours at
the historic courthouse are 9 a.m.-5
p.m. Monday, November 27 is also
the last day to request absentee bal
lots by mail. Tuesday, December 5
is election day. Voting will be held at
the Burke County Office Park from 7
a.m- 7 p.m. There will be no voting
at the historic courthouse that day.
BOCrejects $700k
grant with split vote
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
The Burke County Sheriff’s Office
will not receive a grant aimed at hir
ing six new deputies after the Board
of Commissioners split on whether
to accept it.
Sheriff Alfonzo Williams asked
the BOC to accept a $711,117 COPS
Hiring Grant funded through the
Attorney General’s office during
the November 14 meeting. The
grant required the County to match
$237,039. The funding would have
allowed the BCSO to hire six depu
ties for three years with an agreement
the county would retain the officers
for one additional year after the grant
period ended.
According to Sheriff Williams,
the BCSO currently has eight vacant
deputy positions.
Commissioner Art Lively said
it would be foolish for the board
to accept the COPS grant funding
while the Sheriff is under investiga
tions by various agencies, mainly
regarding his handling of money.
Lively also pointed out the allega-
Sheriff Alfonzo Williams ap
proached the BOC November 14
with requests to accept more than
$2 million in grant funding.
tions surrounding the investigations
have caused the county’s insurance
costs to increase. In response, the
Sheriff pointed to $10 million his
administration has acquired in grant
funding in seven years.
Speaking of no
department specifi- SEE
cally, County Man- BOC
ager Merv Waldrop g
Silent auction to benefit injured deputy
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetuecitizen.shelliel@gmail.com
Proceeds from a silent auction
January 20,2024 will benefit a Burke
County Sheriff’s Office deputy who
suffered extensive injuries during an
off-duty accident.
Sgt. Steven Kophazy fell approxi
mately 25 feet out of a tree stand
while hunting October 26, and land
ed on his back. He was able to reach
his cell phone and call his wife, Ivey,
for help. Kophazy required surgery
for his back and also suffered a bro
ken shoulder. Currently, he is receiv
ing rehabilitative services from the
Shepherd Center in Atlanta. There
are no immediate plans for discharge,
but co-organizer Stephanie Sheppard
said Steven intends to return to work
at the BCSO after he heals.
Kophazy’s sons are 7 years old and
1 month old. The youngest child was
only 10 days old when the accident
occurred. Ivey, an ER nurse at Burke
Health, was on maternity leave.
“Basically, it’s to raise money for
any medical or financial needs they
have,” said Stephanie Sheppard.
The semi-formal event will be held
at First Liberty Market and begins
at 6 p.m. Tickets are $25 each and
include heavy hors d’oeuvres and
entertainment. Additionally, the
Kophazy family will benefit from the
proceeds from a raffle drawing. The
winners will be announced during
the event. Prizes include a watch, a
generator, a Rec Tec grill, a gun safe
and a shotgun. Raffle tickets are $25
each or $80 for four tickets. Raffle
tickets can be purchased by calling
Kyle Tiller at 706-755-5957. Tickets
to attend the event can be purchased
at Burke Health or by calling Tiller.