INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — An Indian River County deputy has been fired – not for using a Tazes on a suspect – but for making untruthful statements and falsifying official documents, Indian River County Sheriff Deryl Loar said Tuesday. The deputy was placed on administrative leave in November pending the outcome of an Internal Affairs investigation.
“These actions will not be tolerated,” Sheriff Loar said of what Deputy Jeff Ledlow did on Aug. 27, 2011.
According to the I.A. report, Deputy Ledlow failed to report the number of times he Tased suspect Jamie Brown during his arrest on outstanding warrants.
Deputy Ledlow did not include in his report that he Tased Brown during the start of the arrest, when trying to get Brown into the patrol car. His report did not explain that Brown resisted arrest, trying to escape though handcuffed.
After being placed in the patrol car, Brown can be heard on Deputy Choi’s dash-cam cursing at the deputy and making other such remarks. He can also be heard thumping the window, which Sheriff Loar explained was Brown pounding his head on the glass.
The I.A. report also states that Deputy Ledlow’s report falsely stated that the deputy transporting Brown, Deputy Choi, advised he was going to pull over to put a hobble on Brown. Instead, Deputy Choi’s in-car camera picked up audio of Deputy Ledlow telling Deputy Choi to pull over.
During that encounter, Deputy Ledlow opened the back door of Deputy Choi’s patrol car to gain access to Brown. Brown can be heard on the camera, which Deputy Choi repositioned to record Brown’s activity, pleading not to be Tased again and he can be seen sliding down the seat, away from Deputy Ledlow.
Despite Deputy Ledlow’s report that Brown tried kicking him from the back of the patrol car, the video does not show corroborating footage.
“At no time can (Deputy) Ledlow be heard giving Brown any lawful commands or instructions,” the I.A. report states. “At no time can Inmate Brown be seen attempting to kick at Deputy Ledlow.”
Sheriff Loar said the use of the Taser was meant as a way to “calm” Brown.
There were other inaccuracies and falsehoods included in Deputy Ledlow’s report, according to the investigation.
Sheriff Loar stressed Tuesday that Deputy Ledlow’s use of his Taser did not result in his termination. Instead, it was because the deputy did not report its use accurately and fully.
“It’s a sad day at the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office,” Sheriff Loar said.
The sheriff explained that deputies’ in-car cameras are randomly reviewed, which is how the situation with Brown and the discrepancies in Deputy Ledlow’s report were discovered.
He said deputies will continue to receive training and there will be an administrative discussion going forward.
Deputy Ledlow served with the Sheriff’s Office since Oct. 19, 2009, without disciplinary issue. Prior to that, he worked for the Vero Beach Police Department, Sheriff Loar said.
