Editor’s note:
Carroll County Observer sat with Carroll County Sheriff Andy Dickson following November’s County Commission meeting on November 10 regarding the drag racing incident that took place in October.
During this time, other stories had developed concurrently, including the CEO ouster at Cachengo and the altercation outside Bruceton City Hall between Police Chief Rick Crossno and resident John Pardue. Unfortunately, the drag racing incident fell through the cracks, and we failed to provide an update in timely manner.
The Sheriff made us aware of this oversight during December 17’s Law Enforcement Committee meeting during the course of a heated discussion between him and Commissioner Dan Willman. We feel that it is important to tell the drag racing update before reporting on the details of the committee meeting and the aforementioned discussion.
Incident Update
Carroll County Sheriff Andy Dickson confirmed that two deputies have been disciplined after an internal investigation into an alleged on-duty drag racing incident involving county vehicles.
According to the Sheriff, night shift Sergeant Ryan Hamilton resigned in lieu of termination, and Corporal Jeremy Smith was suspended without pay for two weeks, as well as demoted.
Two additional deputies, Lucas Coleman and Dustin McClure, were also involved to a lesser extent and each received three days off without pay, according to the Sheriff.
Dickson said the incident occurred when the deputies obtained the keys to the jail transport van and proceeded to drag race it and a deputy vehicle down U.S. Highway 70 near the Mic Stand.
Hamilton drove his patrol vehicle, while Smith operated the jail transport van.
The Sheriff said all four deputies had no prior disciplinary history.
He added that Hamilton had been with the department for about 10 years, Smith had previously served with the Town of Huntingdon Police Department before returning to the Sheriff’s Office, and McClure had only been employed a few weeks at the time.
Sheriff Dickson mentioned that he suspended the deputies immediately once the incident was brought to his attention.
No charges were brought against the deputies.
