(WKYT) – The sheriff in an Eastern Kentucky community believes his agency should not be tied to a controversial arrest.
London Mayor Randall Weddle recently said that the City of London Police and Laurel County Sheriff’s deputies failed to de-escalate the arrest of a man with autism effectively.
Laurel County Sheriff John Root said in a social media post that the mayor’s criticism is unfair.
“Once again last week, our agency’s name was dragged through the mud when Mayor Weddle publicly stated that both agencies failed to de-escalate the situation,” Root wrote.
In the video, an officer is seen slapping the man while he is in handcuffs.
Root wrote that his deputy who was assigned to the scene “never had the opportunity to control or de-escalate the situation” because it was in progress when the deputy arrived on the scene.
The sheriff added that a deputy encountered the man a few weeks earlier and was able to peacefully stabilize the situation.
The charges against the man have since been dropped, and two of the London officers involved have resigned.
Root added he is proud of his deputies and the way they serve the community.
“I am extremely proud of my staff and the professionalism they continue to show under difficult circumstances. They work hard every single day to protect this county while treating people with dignity and respect,” he wrote. “We are not perfect, and we strive every day to get better. We constantly try to improve the services we provide this community. When we mess up, I will own it and fix it.”