Problems with Deputy Chris Brewer Go Back Many Years

Dublin District Attorney RalphWalke said Thursday he wanted to respond to a lawsuit filed against him by a member of the Dublin-Laurens County Drug Team to assure the people of this circuit he will continue toperform his duties as district attorney in amanner that is both legal and ethical.Walke said in a press conference he believed the lawsuit filed against him both personally and as District Attorney by Laurens County Sheriffs Deputy Christopher Brewer stemmed from an investigation began by the “Georgia Bureau of Investigation on Sept. 13, 2000 of allegedly illegal activities on the part of the law enforcement officers arising from an incident on July 9, 1999 related to a drug investigation.”Brewer filed suit against Walke Monday alleging Walke had committed libel and slander against him as well as breached his contract as district attorney because he refused to prosecute any case investigated by Brewer.Walke said he could not “in the interest of justice, prosecute cases based on testimony of incredible and/or uncooperative witnesses.”“Unless we enforce the laws to apply to everyone, we cannot achieve justice,” said Walke. “Where it has come to my attention that any officer’s credibility is tainted or suspect, it is my sworn duty to report that problem to his or her superiors.”He said the GBI as part of its investigation had requested certain law enforcement officers to take a polygraph concerning their involvement in the July 9, 1999 incident relating to a drug investigation and that it is his understanding only one agreed to take the test. Walke said the investigation has been delayed two years because of the failure of local officers to cooperate. Walke then called on Laurens County Sheriff Kenny Webb to press his officers involved in the investigation to cooperate with the GBI and submit to the polygraph test.

Webb said this morning he felt it was improper for him or anyone else to discuss a case where litigation is still pending, but he felt his office had been very cooperative with the GBI.

“As far as any of our officers not being cooperative with the GBI, that’s a question that should be addressed to the GBI,” said Webb. “I think you’ll find the length of time the case has taken to investigate had nothing to do with us being uncooperative.”

In fact, Webb said, “I’m the one that asked them to investigate the thing to start with.”

Georgia Bureau of Investigation Eastman Office Agent in Charge Lee Sweat confirmed “there’s nothing that the sheriff’s office has done to cause any delay in our investigation.”

Although Webb would not say which drug investigation took place on July 9, 1999, because “litigation is still pending on that case too,” The Courier Herald files show that on that day Thomas Clinton Coleman, owner of Coleman Pharmacy in East Dublin, along with his wife Sue and a juvenile, were arrested at 355 Trinity Road by the Dublin-Laurens Drug Unit.

A large amount of prescription drugs were found at the location, along with between $52,000 and $55,000, The Courier Herald files show.

In September 2000, a former Laurens County Sheriff’s deputy was charged with one felony county of theft by taking in association with the investigation involving Coleman’s residence.

Doug Reed, 23, of 920 Bedingfield Avenue, Rentz, was accused of theft by taking while executing a search warrant at Tommy Coleman’s residence on July 9, 1999, The Courier Herald files show.

Sweat would not comment on that case except to say that “we’ve been conducting an investigation and addressing issues that came up. We’ve referred to (the DA’s office) for prosecution the defendant in the original request we had in that case.”

Sweat did confirm that Reed was the defendant he was referring to.

Brewer’s suit against Walke shows that “on March 13, 2002 (Walke) told (Brewer’s) employer and supervisors that (Brewer) had committed perjury on at least six different occasions and subsequent to the alleged statements (Walke) had (Brewer’s) supervisor retrieve warrants prepared by (Brewer) from (Walke’s) office because (Walke) refused to prosecute the warrants solely because they were prepared by (Brewer).”

Brewer’s attorney Derek J. White of Savannah said Tuesday neither he nor Brewer knew why Walke refused to prosecute any cases prepared by Brewer. In Thursday press conference Walke explained why he could not prosecute some cases.

“I cannot, in the interest of justice, prosecute cases based on testimony of incredible and/or uncooperative witnesses. A criminal prosecution often rests solely on the ethical reputation and the credibility of the arresting or investigating officer. If a judge or a jury has reason to doubt the testimony of that officer, there will be no conviction,” Walke said. 😯 

Walke said he was making the statements “to respond to public concerns that have arisen as a result of this lawsuit and to explain the circumstances regarding the relationship between my office and certain members of the local drug squad, which undoubtedly has created the current situation.”

“I have long been dissatisfied with the work of certain elements within the local drug squad,” said Walke. “Some of the officers assigned to this unit have not cooperated with my office in the prosecution of cases initiated by them. Further, their conduct has led to the judicial dismissal of some criminal cases and to civil actions filed against Laurens County for money damages. The taxpayers of this county will bear the ultimate responsibility and expense of defending and resolving any judgments that may result.

Read more: The Courier Herald – District Attorney responds to suit filed by office Local headline