In October, 2014, Brandon Paquette was arrested in Augusta, Georgia. He was charged with possession of testosterone with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. His brother, Cameron Ryan Paquette, was also arrested and charged with two felony counts of terroristic threats and acts. He allegedly threatened the life of a narcotics investigator, Joel Danko, involved with the arrest of his brother. This occurred in a home in neighboring Columbia County. The brothers are very large, muscular men.
The Paquettes are no strangers to the Richmond County Sheriff's office. In fact, they're quite friendly with many deputies. Their older brother, Patrick, is a deputy in Greene County, Georgia, and a reserve deputy for Richmond County. Their father, Porky, had been a deputy. He'd also worked for the fire department some 20 years ago. After his arrest, Brandon hinted that he'd sold steroids to several officers on the force. There had also been rumors on social media prior to his arrest that he had information about RCSO deputies using steroids. He decided to remain silent and retain an attorney shortly after being brought in.
According to WRDW this is what happened:
Narcotics investigators are charging Brandon Taylor Paquette with Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute, as well as Possession of a Firearm During a Crime.
The Sheriff's Office got a search warrant for Paquette and stopped him at his home on Pennsylvania Avenue, Thursday, October 16, 2014. Narcotics investigators say they found multiple vials of illegal steroids in his Ford Super Duty pickup truck.
Here's what investigators say they found in his vehicle: 16 T-N-T 10 ml vials, 6 Testo-Ject C300 10 ml vials, 11 Teste-Ject 400 10 ml vials, 10 Trena-Ject E150 10 ml vials.
After searching the truck, narcotics investigators turned their attention to Paquette's home.
Here's a list of what the Sheriff's Office says they found inside the residence: 2 T-N-T 10 ml vial, 1 Trena-Ject E150 10 ml vial, a Smith and Wesson handgun, a Howa, Model 1500 .30-06 rifle.
46 vials total, 18 of which are illegal, and aren't even supposed to be used by humans.
Neighbors reported seeing marked department cars come and stay for just a short time before leaving. When Brandon was re-interviewed he named several people he said used steroids, dating back to 2004. In fact he wondered why he was being bothered "after all these years". Sheriff Richard Roundtree did not begin an internal investigation, stating he would not take the word of a 'thug'. Local media were going nuts, wanting answers. The sheriff was not cooperative. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) was brought in, and Brandon was given a polygraph, which he passed. However, none of the implicated deputies were ever drug tested. Deputy Mike Swint, an 11 year veteran of the force, handed in a letter of resignation.
According to local radio personality Austin Rhodes, for at least 20 years there has been a "deep culture of tolerance for such activity" among officers. It goes very high up in the department.
From the Metro Spirit:
Here is a bit of a note I got from the spouse of an officer who works closely with several of the suspected users, he may even be one himself:
“You don’t get it! The department pressures these guys into these physical conditions. They make it semi-mandatory. Roundtree wants the “elite” to look a certain way. These guys are good people. They are doing what is necessary to meet the standards of what he has required them to be. What I’m saying, Austin, is that, yes, I think there is a problem. But these guys aren’t the problem. It’s the person laying the standards and conditions that’s a problem. Attacking these guys who are products of their environment is not the answer. I wish for once you’d attack the real source instead of ripping people’s lives apart.”
With law enforcement officers being scrutinized for their excessive force, it's not comforting to realize that "40-60% of tactical officers across the nation today" may be 'roid raging. It would certainly explain a lot. It's far past time to hold officers accountable for their overreactions and brutality. Across the country law enforcement needs to be restrained, retrained, and drug tested.
The case has been turned over the the District Attorney's Office. Sheriff Roundtree won't comment on an ongoing case. According to WJBF:
So we did an Open Records Request and found that since October, there have been 10 terminations, 13 retirements, and 54 resignations at the sheriff’s office.
And in the last month, at least 7 resignations have taken place.
In Richmond County, Georgia, Sheriff Richard Roundtree has not had much to say on the steroid matter. It's business as usual. Charges, if there are to be any, are a long time coming. At least the
Body Cam Policy has gone into effect. It's a step in the right direction. If done correctly, both deputies and the citizens of the Central Savannah River Area can feel a bit safer. Let's hope it saves lives.
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