MEDIA ADVISORY

May8, 2015
For Immediate Release

Sheriff St Lawrence Makes Statement

Sheriff Al St Lawrence has taken numerous steps within his department as a result of the death of
Matthew Ajibade. As he said in his statement of Wednesday, the Sheriff deeply regrets the death of Mr.
Ajibade.
On January 2, 2015, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) began its external review of the conduct
of those individuals within the Sheriffs Office present at the facility during the incident on January 1,
2015. In a parallel investigation, the Internal Affairs Division of the Sheriffs Office began a review, not
only of the personnel involved, but of the policies of the Department. Upon receipt of the GBIs
completed investigation, approximately two weeks ago, the Sheriff instructed Internal Affairs to again
review the actions of the deputies involved as well as the policies of the Department with the evidence
obtained by the GBI. In accordance with those investigations, today the Sheriff has taken the following
steps:
Nine (9) deputies have been terminated from employment today:
Cpl. Maxine Evans
Cpl. Jason Kenny
Pvt. Eric Vinson
Pvt. Abram Burns
Pvt. Christopher Reed
Pvt. Burt Ambrose
Pvt. Paul Folsome
Pvt. Frederick Burke
Pvt. Andrew Evans-Martinez
Greg Capers, Benjamin Webster and Lt. Debra Johnson are no longer employed with the Sheriff Office.
Capers and Webster were terminated for policy violations not related to this incident and Lt. Johnson
has retired.

Gena Bilbo - Public Information Director

Chatham County Sheriff's Office

Office: 912.652.7606 | Cell: 912.660.9571 | gmbilbo@chathamcounty.org

Simultaneously with the release of this statement, the Sheriff is releasing the personnel files and
termination letters of the first nine individuals named above. As both the Internal Affairs and GBI
reports are currently in the hands of the District Attorney for her independent review to take action as
she deems appropriate, the Sheriff is not releasing those reports.
The Sheriff instructed the County Attorney to initiate legal proceedings last Monday in Chatham County
Superior Court to determine if the Internal Affairs files are subject to release during the ongoing criminal
investigation. The Sheriff will abide by the decision rendered by Superior Court. Until such time as the
Court rules or such time as the District Attorney concludes the ongoing criminal investigation, the Sheriff
will not release any additional information.
Also, as announced on Wednesday, the Sheriff has instituted policy changes as a result of these parallel
investigations. Those changes include:
New booking procedures to ensure immediate notification to onsite medical
personnel when a person with medication arrives for the booking process.
New security procedures with the jail to audit the use of Taser devices and reconcile
such use with standard documentation and current Use of Force policies.
The Cell Extraction and Removal Team (CERT) will be reviewed and have a renewed
focus of discipline and use of non-lethal force.

A clear written policy of when Tasers may not be used.

All questions regarding any potential criminal prosecution should be directed to the District Attorney

Gena Bilbo - Public Information Director

Chatham County Sheriff's Office

Office: 912.652.7606 | Cell: 912.660.9571 | gmbilbo@chathamcounty.org