From [HERE] and [HERE] The Charleston County Sheriff's Office has released footage of an encounter between three deputies and a 19-year-old man which has resulted in a lawsuit alleging brutality and injustice. The lawsuit, filed by Attorney Lionel Lofton on behalf of 19-year-old Devante Pittman, alleges three deputies, and one in particular, used excessive force during a traffic stop in West Ashley on Nov. 11.
According to the lawsuit, Pittman was driving his Dodge Charger on Savannah Highway around 11 p.m. when he turned onto Orleans Road and noticed flashing blue lights from two Charleston County Sheriff's Office cruisers behind him. Pittman immediately pulled over near the Monster Music on Orleans Road and began to search for his driver's license and vehicle registration.
At that time, the lawsuit states Deputy Christopher Davis approached the window and told Pittman he was being stopped and ticketed for failure to use his turn signal. The lawsuit states Pittman told Davis he thought he had used his turn signal, which prompted Davis to reach his right hand through the open window on the driver's side and strike Pittman in the face, repeatedly, with a metal flashlight.
Pittman's attorney said two other deputies, James Howard and Gilbert Baldwin, then walked over and helped Davis force Pittman from the vehicle. The lawsuit alleges as Howard and Baldwin restrained Pittman, Davis pulled the back of Pittman's head and repeatedly struck him in the face with his right fist.
The lawsuit states "the force of Davis's blows was so severe that one of [Pittman's] teeth, along with some of the bone attached to the tooth, was knocked out." Attorney Lofton said Pittman suffered significant physical injuries and damages including severe bruising to areas of his face and head and significant damage to his teeth and jaw that will require extensive reconstructive surgery.
Major Jim Brady with the sheriff's office said Deputy Davis had been placed on administrative leave with pay, pending the outcome of an internal investigation. The State Law Enforcement Division is also involved.
The other two deputies are still on active duty, according to Brady.
According to the initial incident report from the Sheriff's Office, deputies were investigating reports of shots fired near Elsey Street, just off Wappoo Road in West Ashley. Officers were still searching the area two hours later at 11:10 p.m. when they pulled Pittman over in the area of Orleans Road and Hazelwood Drive for not using his turn signal.
The incident report states that Pittman "became belligerent and refused to comply with Deputies demands."
According to the report, Pittman refused to get out of the car and tried to pull Deputy Davis into the car when Davis tried to unlock the driver's side door. Deputies were able to get Pittman out of the car with a "brief struggle," according to the report.
According to the lawsuit, Deputy James Howard and Deputy Gilbert Baldwin joined Davis to get Pittman out of the car. The lawsuit states that Howard and Baldwin allegedly held down Pittman while Deputy Davis repeatedly hit him in the face.
Lofton claims in the lawsuit that Pittman did nothing wrong and was wrongfully charged for assault and battery.
Jim Brady with the Charleston County Sheriff's office said SLED and the CCSO Internal Affairs Unit are looking into the incident.
Brady said Deputy Davis was placed on administrative leave with pay while Deputies Howard and Baldwin remain on active duty.