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S.C. mayor responds to arrest video
Published November 25, 2009
After earlier condemnation of the Social Circle Department of Public Safety, Mayor Jim Burgess has changed his tone after seeing the video footage of the arrest of a woman who cursed at an officer during a traffic stop.
Heather Elizabeth Foster, 36, of Social Circle, was arrested Nov. 10 for disorderly conduct following a traffic stop for running a red light when she used a profane epithet against arresting officer Michael Taylor.
Foster took her complaint over the arrest to the Social Circle City Council last week, alleging an abuse of power by Taylor and painting a picture of a victim, arrested in front of her child, who was arrested for a passing remark to bystanders.
At the time, Burgess and other members of the Council were quick to criticize the SCDPS, with Burgess calling the behavior described by Foster as “gross” and “not the way we want our police department to operate.”
Since the council meeting Nov. 17, however, Burgess has watched the tape recording the arrest and is regretful of the tone he adopted in the heat of the moment.
“Frankly, after reviewing the tape, I was wrong in my reaction at the meeting,” Burgess said. “I certainly made a premature conclusion.”
The mayor said the tape painted a different picture than Foster hinted at in the meeting.
“The side she presented was not consistent with what was on the tape,” Burgess said. “She did make derogatory remarks about an officer of our public safety department. The officer was extremely professional. He actually comforted the child while they were waiting.”
Burgess also said he made a mistake in allowing the Fosters to speak at the meeting, before they had registered an official complaint and gone through the procedures of an internal investigation.
“We only heard one side of the story,” Burgess said. “That was unfortunate to our police department. We sort of got blindsided.”
Greg Foster, the husband of the suspect, said he did not understand the mayor’s change of heart.
“We didn’t tell him anything in the meeting that was not on the tape,” Foster said. “I don’t know why anyone would change their opinion after seeing the tape.”
Heather Foster admitted at the meeting to the profanity but denied yelling it at the officer, instead speaking to passing residents as she left the traffic stop. After the word, clearly visible on the tape, was spoken, Taylor quickly pursued Foster, pulled her over for a second time and arrested her.
“It’s such poor judgment to make that call in that situation,” Foster said.
According to Foster, lost in the arguments over what is displayed in the tape is the overall operation of the police.
“Our question is why they are out there writing tickets that are at best questionable,” Foster said. “We don’t want the police out writing redundant citations on shaky evidence.”
While the incident is still under an internal investigation, Burgess said he regretted hasty comments at the meeting and hoped to avoid such a situation in the future.
“We jumped the gun,” Burgess said. “You just have to learn from these experiences.”
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