UPDATED: Two LCSO deputies involved in questionable traffic stop have been suspended, pending investigation

Levy County Sheriff's Office (LCSO)

UPDATE:
On Sept. 11, 2023, W.O. Brett Beauchamp, Undersheriff and Legal Advisor for the Levy County Sheriff's Office, released an mp4 video statement by Levy County Sheriff Bobby McCallum regarding this incident that was too large to post online. However, in the video, Sheriff McCallum stated, "Good afternoon. I am Levy County Sheriff Bobby McCallum. As a result of a traffic stop that occurred this past February involving two of our deputies and two of our citizens, I would like to take this opportunity to address this matter. I have suspended both deputies involved in this incident, pending the results of an internal investigation. These deputies, under the Florida Law Enforcement Bill of Rights, have a right to due process. Therefore, I am limited to discussing the video or any information regarding this incident until lthe internal investigation is completed. I have asked Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods for assistance in this investigation, and he has assigned Professional Standard Investigators to conduct the internal investigation on behalf of me and the Levy County Sheriff's Office. Let me say that I, as sheriff, and the men and women of this agency, do not condone any violation of policy or standards of this agency. I am very proud of the men and women of this agency, and their service to the citizens. Let me assure all of our citizens, that their sheriff's office stands to protect and serve all of our citizens in Levy County. We have done that, and we will continue to do that. I do not condone behavior that takes away from that mission. At the conslusion of this investigation, we will take appropriate action, based on the results of that investigation. Until then, I cannot comment on this incident or investigation. I thank you for your understanding and patience in this matter. Thank you. "

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Levy County Sheriff's Office (LCSO)

Late Thursday afternoon, September 7, 2023, a professionally edited video of a Levy County Sheriff's Office (LCSO) traffic stop was posted to the internet, that the LCSO believes, according to a press release, may be part of a coordinated attack against the agency and law enforcement in general.

According to the Levy County Sheriff's Office, there has been a significant negative reaction to the posting of the video that has consisted of phone calls, emails and social media postings. Some of these interactions have been threatening toward sheriff's office personnel and their family members, according to the press release.

Prior to September 7, the Levy County Sheriff's Office had not received any complaints regarding the traffic stop incident, and as soon as Levy County Sheriff Bobby McCallum was made aware of potential misconduct by his deputies, he ordered both a criminal and internal review of the incident, and the two deputies involved in the traffic stop incident have been suspended. They will remain suspended until there is resolution of the issues involved.

"We regret the negative attention that this incident has brought on our staff and our county," according to the press release. "Any necessary corrective action will be taken once the incident is fully investigated. Thank you for your understanding in this matter."

Here's a link to the "professionally edited video," mentioned in the press release, posted on YouTube, of the traffic stop incident: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gd4ZLO7GTB0

The traffic stop occurred on February 13, 2023 of 40 year-old John Patrick Reeve of Bronson, Florida, who was arrested on a bench warrant for failure to appear in court. A passenger inside Reeve's vehicle was recording the incident. Viewers of the video are concerned that the woman's Constitutional Amendment (1st and possibly 4th) rights were violated. Mr. Reeve was booked into the Levy County Detention Bureau at 1:15 am on February 14, 2023.

According to a WCJB Channel 20 video segment, the two deputies involved in the incident - Deputy Gerard Williams (Badge # 751) and Deputy Samuel Quincey (Badge # 459) - were suspended with pay. Here's a link to WCJB Channel 20's video segment regarding this incident:
https://www.wcjb.com/2023/09/08/video-woman-recording-levy-county-deputies-handcuffed-phone-taken/.