The interim sheriff for Pike County has denied the Guardian’s request for public records surrounding a viral video of the suspended Sheriff by saying that a deputy is under investigation.
On October 19, suspended Sheriff Charles S. Reader was served with a civil subpoena to give a deposition in lawsuit. The lawsuit involves former Pike County Deputy Joel Jenkins, who once was a deputy in Fayette County and a reserve officer for Washington Court House Police Department. In the suit, the family of then-Pike County citizen Jason Brady is suing Jenkins and others for wrongful death after Jenkins shot and killed Brady, who was his neighbor back in 2017. Pike County Prosecutor Rob Junk is also being sued in the federal case because it is alleged that Junk provided Jenkins with the handgun used to kill Brady.
When Reader was served with the subpoena last week by a Pike County deputy, the deputy was wearing a privately owned body camera. In the body camera video released on social media on the same Saturday as the civil service of the document was made upon Reader, the deputy, Eric Zerneskie, appears to ask Reader how he is doing.
“I’d be better if you’d get the f— off my property,” Reader tells him on the video. “Understood,” the deputy responds.
Later in the day, the video surfaced online and went viral, locally. In response, Reader released a statement apologizing for his words.
“I am under a lot of pressure and stress. I have built my life on criminal justice and on a law enforcement badge. I feel very hurt and broken through these recent happenings. As you can imagine, the respect I once had for the badge is dwindling each day as I fight everyday to find hope. I regret my words,” the statement read in-part.
The Pike County Sheriff’s office does not have county issued body cameras. As a result of the video being filmed on a private device used by the deputy, and released on a weekend without administration approval, the Guardian requested numerous public records surrounding the incident to see what happened, including the video, itself, as well as policies and procedures surrounding the use of body camera and the deputy’s personnel file.
On October 30, 10 days after the public records request was made by this publication, the Pike County Sheriff’s office’s records clerk, Theresa Parmeter sent an email denying the request, saying the deputy was under investigation.
“I am not able to comply with your public records at this time [sic] the incident is under investigation,” her denial read.
According to numerous cases ruled on by the Supreme Court of Ohio, including State ex rel. Morgan v. City of New Lexington, disciplinary investigations of alleged violations of internal office policies or procedures are not law enforcement matters, including disciplinary matters and personnel files of law enforcement officers and are not covered under the exemptions that allow public record requests to be denied.
“The only way this record request can be legally denied is if the matter is under a criminal investigation,” said the Guardian’s interim editor-in-chief, Derek Myers. “An internal investigation is not a legal reason to deny this request.”
The Guardian replied to the Sheriff’s office on Wednesday afternoon requesting the office cite the legal authority that they believe allows them to deny the records for release.
“If the interim Sheriff does not comply with the law, we will proceed with legal action.”
In July, a grand jury indicted Reader on 16 charges. In August, the Supreme Court of Ohio officially suspended Reader from office, pending the outcome of his spring 2020 trial.
Editor’s note: The Guardian’s interim editor-in-chief, Derek Myers, was the Pike County Sheriff’s spokesperson until July 2019.
FINALLY someone reported the TRUTH!! Thank you so much for being honest!! So sick and tired of Sheriff Reader being tormented ,prosecuted, lied on, and set up by those in higher places . Thank you, God bless you!
It’s about time someone finally reported the truth! Please go on doing the same!!! I happen to believe that Sheriff Reader was the best thing that had happened to Pike County in a very long time and that will come to be true also if only the truth is reported!!!
Lmfao save it. Liedddd on. We have been waiting for this monster to get what he deserves for a long time. He must of been raised by a idiot.
it’s illegal to go on someone property and record them without their knowledge. The recording won’t be released by the sheriffs dept. because they did not make the recording. A deputy took it upon himself to make the recording without readers knowledge. The recording will be used as evidence against the deputy for secretly recording someone on their own property without their knowledge while on the clock. the deputy will be disciplined for this.
Sheriff gets what he gets,he was an undercover crook.used his authority to steal an let his kid drive cars THAT DID NOT BELONG TO HIM.????????????HE ISNT ABOVE THE LAW.CHARAGE HIM LIKE YOU WOULD DO THE REST
Have you even READ the indictment? Get on here and spew lies. Go do your homework JENNIFER
I’m so glad someone finally reported some real news. The video of Mr. Readers behavior is exactly what everyone needed to see. It shows the true “ People’s Sheriff. “ No need to worry about nasty rumors and BS. His actions shined through. So thank you for publishing the video and this article. While the deputy may have bent the rules, it doesn’t excuse Readers behavior which was disrespectful, hostile and down right mean. So here is to real news!! Thank you!!