Greenville deputy fired, arrested
A Greenville County Sheriff’s Office deputy has been fired and arrested after striking a suspect who resisted arrest.
Sheriff Steve Loftis held a press conference Wednesday morning to release the findings of an internal affairs investigation surrounding the incident, involving deputy Brandon L. Napolitanohas. He has been charged with assault and battery to the third degree.
“It hurts when something like this happens, but that’s part of my job,” Loftis began, “that’s part of the entire office’s job when in this case as you see deputy Napolitano did not use proper restraint, and he had to suffer the consequences.”
The sheriff called it a “sad day” for the department.
The situation, which occurred on early in the morning on July 30, occurred when Napolitano responded to a strong-armed robbery call at the Spinx station at 4815 White Horse Road. According to Loftis, suspect Brian Christopher Mickens tried to enter the store’s office and the store clerk tried to shut him inside. The suspect then was able to escape through the ceiling and fled on foot. Deputies pursued Mickens and called in the K-9 unit. The suspect was located at Mitchell’s Used Cars hiding under a pickup truck. Loftis said Mickens refused to comply with commands from deputies and K-9 dogs then bit him. Handcuffs were applied and Mickens requested medical attention to treat a bite on his lower right leg. Mickens was transported by EMS to Greenville Hospital System on Grove Road. Napolitano followed in his patrol car.
The suspect was treated and prepared to be released. Napolitano called two GHS police officers to help with the suspect, who refused to leave the hospital bed and made verbal threats to Napolitano and hospital staff. Once discharged, Napolitano advised Mickens that it was time to go to jail, and Mickens said he would not walk.
Police retrieved a wheelchair and Napolitano attempted to get Mickens out of the bed. Mickens allowed himself to fall to the floor. The officers then placed the suspect in the chair.
A surveillance video captured what happened next.
Napolitano pushed the suspect in the chest and then hit him twice with a closed fist. Mickens was handcuffed at the time.
Once the situation was contained, officers led Mickens to Napolitano’s patrol car.
“As Mickens was being taken to the patrol car,” Loftis said, “he made threats towards deputy Napolitano and his family, stating he would kill his family once he was released from jail or either hire someone to kill his family.”
Mickens was taken to the Greenville County Detention Center on the following offenses: strong armed robbery, two counts of resisting arrest, possession of drug paraphernalia and threatening the life of a public official.
The following day, GHS police contacted the GCSO concerned about what transpired. The GCSO began its investigation and Napolitano was placed on administrative leave. Once all the facts were obtained, a case was presented to the 13th Circuit Solicitor’s Office and Napolitano was charged.
On Monday, Oct. 5, Napolitano’s employment was terminated and he was placed under arrest and escorted to the detention center where he was arraigned and released.
“In enforcing the laws, it does not mean we are above the law,” Loftis said. “It means that we are held to higher standards as deputies.”
kmaple@greercitizen.com | 877-2076
