Murphy – The situation easily could have ended with a fatality.
A Cherokee County sheriff’s deputy is expected to undergo surgery this week to repair a severed knee tendon suffered during an attack by a local resident. Sgt. Brandon Morgan, 33, most likely will receive a commendation from the sheriff for exercising restraint in use of force even after the attacker gained the upper hand.
“The suspect was very lucky that the officer maintained his composure and continued to de-escalate the situation because under the circumstances deadly force could have been justified,” Sheriff Derrick Palmer said.
Morgan was dispatched to a home in the 4000 block of Harshaw Road around 12:30 a.m. July 7. Residents of the neighborhood had reported hearing screams originating from inside the house, where Morgan encountered 23-year-old Robert Dewayne Reed.
Harrowing video of the incident, reviewed by the Cherokee Scout, shows Reed shirtless while holding a piece of wood and refusing commands to drop it.
“I’m not (expletive) around, bro,” Reed says to Morgan, who has a Taser pointed at him.
“I don’t want to Tase you, but I will,” Morgan says in response.
A citizen inside the property can be heard calling Reed by his first name, as Morgan commands him to drop the stick.
“Get that (expletive) ray gun off me,” Reed yells in response, while calling Morgan the n-word.
Reed then steps toward Morgan, who yells, “You better get back.”
Video shows Morgan continuing to command Reed to “drop the stick” for more than 30 seconds while the citizen in the background tries to convince him to do the same. Then, after Morgan says he’ll have to use his Taser if he doesn’t comply, Reed yells, “I feel threatened, bro.”
A moment later, Reed throws the stick at the deputy and then charges him, at which time Morgan deploys his stun gun. Reed initially screams after being hit with the Taser, but it doesn’t seem to have much effect as he continues the attack and tackles Morgan.
“Stop! Stop!” Morgan yells as the duo tussles.
With Morgan and Reed in close proximity, the deputy’s body camera footage becomes blurry. However, Morgan can be heard yelling, “Help, help.”
“I will stop, if you stop,” Reed says, again using the n-word.
Audio from an additional Taser deployment can be heard as Morgan then yells, “Get off me.” The citizen in the background can be heard telling Reed to get off the officer as well.
However, Reed continues to fight Morgan and yells, “I told you, my mental (expletive), bro.”
The pair continue to tussle for a few more seconds before Morgan screams, “Oh, (expletive). Don’t hit it; don’t hit it. ... Stop hitting the Taser.”
“Then leave me alone,” Reed screams.
After a few moments of additional yelling back and forth, Morgan says, “Ah, (expletive). Hold on. I dislocated my knee.”
Reed then suddenly changes his tune. “Let me help you,” he says.
While the two men are seated on the floor, Morgan pulls out his handcuffs. Reed then yells, “I’m not going to hurt you. I don’t want to be arrested.”
At this point, body cam footage shows the citizen physically touching Reed, trying to calm him down as Morgan points out that his knee is blown.
“I’m sorry,” Reed yells.
“Put your hands out real quick, please,” Morgan says to Reed, trying to arrest him while they're still on the floor.
But Reed appears hesitant to surrender and says, “I’m sorry. I have PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).”
Morgan replies, “I’m going to help you, man. Put your hands out, OK.”
However, Reed continues to plead for his freedom, saying, “I will not attack you. ... I give you my word.”
Morgan then says, “Robert, please. My knee is killing me, man.”
Reed eventually allows Morgan to place him in handcuffs and says, “I didn’t want to fight you, but my PTSD is not good.”
After the deputy radios for medics to respond to the scene, the citizen who witnessed the encounter helps Morgan pull a 3-inch piece of glass out of his knee.
“Even after he was hurt, Sgt. Morgan did an outstanding job of trying to get this guy to stand down and comply,” Palmer said. “The Taser was not being effective, the suspect was out of control and the deputy’s knee was blown out, but he continued to manage the situation. The fact that he was trying to resolve the situation without hurting someone speaks volumes toward Sgt. Morgan’s character.”
Arrest documents say Morgan severed the patellar tendon in his left leg. He most likely will undergo several months of rehabilitation before returning to the streets.
Reed is charged with resisting arrest, assault on law enforcement resulting in serious injury and assault with a deadly weapon on a government official. A magistrate judge set a secured bond of $40,000, but Judge Kristina Earwood later increased it to $75,000.