Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Former Officer Wilbert Jamison Jr Charged with Abusing His Son


GAFFNEY, S.C.

A former Gaffney police officer who served as a resource officer at a middle school was arrested and charged with criminal domestic violence after an earlier indictment of abusing his son.

Wilbert Jamison Jr. was charged with criminal domestic violence. According to a warrant issued earlier Tuesday, Jamison shoved his wife, causing her to fall to the ground and hit her head. Earlier Tuesday morning, he was indicted and accused of handcuffing his 11-year-old son while beating him.

A Cherokee County grand jury indicted Jamison Tuesday on three counts of unlawful conduct towards a child.

Jamison was a Gaffney police officer starting in the late 90s, and he served as both a patrol officer and a school resource officer at Gaffney Middle School.

Jamison resigned about a month ago, citing personal reasons. The alleged abuse took place while Jamison was an active duty officer.

The indictment says that between April 1 and Aug. 30, 2007, Jamison handcuffed his son and forced him to run back and forth in the yard while Jamison beat him with a belt, causing him severe physical and mental injury.

In the second count, the indictment alleges that between Jan. 1 and April 30, 2007, Jamison handcuffed the boy, and locked him faced own in a closet.

The third count of the indictment says that between Dec. 6 and Dec. 8, 2006, Jamison beat the child with a belt, and the belt and buckle caused severe injury to the boy's ankle and foot.

Current Gaffney Police Chief Rick Turner said that he cannot comment on why Jamison continued to work for the department during the investigation because he was not chief at the time.

Turner said he was not made aware of an official investigation by the S.C. Attorney General's Office.

Turner said that in the future, accusations against officers will be handled on a case-by-case basis, and if the accusation bleeds over into the officer's official responsibilities -- such as a child abuse charge against an officer who works with children -- the officer could be reassigned until the investigation is completed.

Tuesday, the State Law Enforcement Division filed a warrant against Jamison for criminal domestic violence, first offense. The warrant said that on April 25, 2008, Jamison shoved his wife, Teresa Jamison, causing her to fall to the floor.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Jamison was not in custody.

His wife said she is still married to him, but she is seeking a divorce so she and her son can move on.

Teresa Jamison said, "We've formed … a new family without the abuse. And any time you get rid of abuse, it can only go up from there.

"We're doing much better. I feel a sense of relief that finally justice will be served."

Other Information: http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/575/story/742254.html

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

he is a poor excuse 1st as a man 2nd as police officer how can u expect to trust some one like him who is supposed to PROTECT AND SERVE the community he is no real father or man he is a real coward to do something as terrible as that i pray justice gets served.....sincerley his real father!!!