From the Durham, NC Herald Sun Paper:
I guess the Democrats are really running scared now, since they are resorting to thuggery via the local Sheriffs Department. Shame on you Mr. Padgett!
Herald Sun Article 10/30/10
Teen backers of GOP sheriff hopeful swear out warrant vs. captain
By KEITH UPCHURCH kupchurch@heraldsun.com; 419-6612
DURHAM — Roy Taylor, the GOP candidate for Durham County sheriff, claimed that a captain in the Durham County Sheriff’s Office harassed and threatened three teen election workers campaigning for him outside the Board of Elections office Friday afternoon.
Later in the day, Taylor said, the youths appeared with their parents before a Durham County magistrate to swear out an arrest warrant against the captain, Rickey Padgett. Taylor said the magistrate referred the matter to Durham court officials. He said he learned that the complaint will be referred to the N.C. Attorney General’s Office, although that could not be confirmed with judicial officials late Friday.
“I had three poll workers — 17, 18, 19 years old — here [outside the Board of Elections office], and Capt. Padgett waited until the adults left, and then he approached them and said: ‘Y’all are stupid’ and ‘You don’t know what you’re talking about’ and ‘Roy Taylor is going to jail’ and ‘I’m going to be taking your pictures and you’re going to jail as soon as this election is over.’ ”
“And there were all kinds of poll workers who heard him,” Taylor said. “He was just out of line.”
Durham County Sheriff Worth Hill was in Raleigh when he learned of the allegations from a reporter.
“I’d have to see what the real story is,” Hill said. “It doesn’t shock me that Mr. Taylor would say something like that. But if Padgett did that, that’s something he shouldn’t do. I wouldn’t do anything like that. I wouldn’t want our people to behave like that. It’s uncalled for in any kind of election.”
Taylor, who faces Hill in Tuesday’s election, claimed that Padgett broke the law through his alleged actions.
“That’s actually a violation of North Carolina General Statutes to harass electioneers, and that’s exactly what he did. He came out here and committed a misdemeanor today.”
Kenneth Battle, the father of two of the campaign workers involved, said his sons, Donald Howze, 17, and Thomas Porter, 18, were handing out literature when a man approached and confronted them. They and the third worker, William Lee Jr., 20, did not know who the man was, but other campaign workers who observed the incident identified him as Padgett, Battle said.
Mike Ashe, director of the Durham County Board of Elections, said “Taylor’s people came and told me” about the allegations. “I told them there wasn’t much the Board of Elections could do, because it allegedly happened outside the 50-feet line near the front of the building,” which removes it from the board’s control.
Taylor said he didn’t see the alleged exchange, but that his workers called him and he came to the elections board “to make sure they were OK. It’s pretty upsetting, especially when you’re dealing with youth,” he said. “They’re good kids, just trying to be active and do something good in the community. And to have somebody who comes up and bullies them and uses their official position to harass them …”
Padgett could not be reached for comment Friday. Maj. Ricky Buchanan of the sheriff’s office said Padgett “won’t be making a statement since it’s an internal investigation.” Buchanan said he did interviews Friday in connection with the allegations and will personally be looking into Taylor’s claims.
Taylor said he wants Durham police to investigate the matter, but police spokeswoman Kimberle Walker said she wasn’t aware of the complaint Friday.
Battle said his sons would be back out campaigning today.
Respectfully submitted by SilenceDogood2010 this Thirtieth Day of October in the Year of our Lord, Two Thousand Ten.