Lumina News echoes calls for full transparency from law enforcement officials in the New Hanover County detention center death of former Brunswick County Sherriff Ron Hewett Saturday afternoon, July 12. Videos of what transpired should be released to the community, as should the autopsy results.
Hewett was arrested July 9, following execution of a search warrant on his Brunswick County home by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) for multiple federal firearms violations. As a convicted felon Hewett was prohibited from possessing firearms that had been transported across state lines.
He had been convicted and served 16 months in federal prison for one count of obstruction of justice, to which he pled guilty in 2008. He concurrently served four months on a state conviction for embezzlement and obstruction of justice. The 17-year sheriff was temporarily removed from office in March 2008 on accusations ranging from corruption to intoxication and/or under the influence of drugs while on the job, which included crime scenes. Days later, he had been indicted on charges of embezzlement and obstruction of justice for trying to “influence, obstruct and impede” a federal grand jury investigation into allegations against him from within his own office.
It is troubling when anyone dies in law enforcement care. This is compounded by lack of information. As the Hewett family and friends mourn their loved one, the community wants to know how he died.
New Hanover County Sheriff Ed McMahon said when he received the word about what happened, he immediately consulted with the district attorney’s office. McMahon and the DA jointly requested the State Bureau come in and conduct a death investigation.
Two investigations began immediately -— the State Bureau of Investigation’s — Sheriff McMahon said the investigation is the SBI’s. The SBI has been silent.
The sheriff’s department also has an independent internal affairs investigation ongoing to make sure policies and procedures were followed.
Sheriff McMahon has provided the only official details to emerge. They include that the former Brunswick sheriff was held in administrative segregation, in a cell by himself. He was a high-profile inmate, and a federal prisoner. He was being watched closely to make sure no inmates would harm him and presumably also not harm himself.
During a July 15 phone interview, Sheriff McMahon said what occurred began as Hewett was removed from his cell for a visit with his mother and girlfriend.
“As he came out of his cell for the visit, [officers] had an altercation with him,” McMahon said. The time has been loosely placed at just after 2 p.m. Published emergency services records show EMS and fire rescue units were dispatched to the jail just before 3 p.m. One report has an EMS unit receiving information about a patient in cardiac or respiratory arrest/death.
An autopsy was performed Monday. Sheriff McMahon said he hopes those results will be officially released this week.
Unofficial reports state a Taser was used on Hewett to subdue him.
The sheriff said there are no deadly force weapons inside the jail. He said Tasers are considered less than lethal.
Sheriff McMahon said there are multiple videos of what happened, which have been turned over to the SBI. He said he wants the SBI to do a thorough, independent investigation and he is staying out of the way, that he has had no contact with the SBI personally since Saturday night when it was at the scene.
He said his desire is to be as transparent as possible. When this investigation is over he wants to give out more information than what the law allows. He committed to go through the proper channels to get permission to tell the community if he has found any violations.
He said at this point no officers have been suspended or placed on administrative leave.
This could indicate that internal affairs is not initially holding the officer(s) involved in the altercation at fault. Historically, when it is believed a gross violation might have occurred, that officer is either suspended or put on administrative leave until the internal investigation has been completed. Taunting of an inmate would be a violation and would be grounds for being placed on immediate leave.
Former Sheriff Hewett drew publicity to himself like a magnet, always appearing in television footage or newsprint photos at crime scenes, which earned him the nickname “Hollywood Hewett.” A PBS documentary was even produced about Hewett in 2006, entitled “Sheriff.”
The contrast between Hewett’s most recent mug shot and his appearance from the years when he was seen through the camera lenses as the charismatic, go get ’em, gun-brandishing sheriff is quite startling.
Hewett does not appear well in his last mug shot.
Video can vindicate or condemn. It is taken so there will be a record of what transpired, good or bad; it is taken so it can be seen. The SBI needs to release the unaltered videos to the public, plus the autopsy results.
Nothing less will put to rest the speculation that is swirling around this tragedy.
