//Social media photo of deputy hogtying man, stepping on his back are inaccurate, sheriff says

Social media photo of deputy hogtying man, stepping on his back are inaccurate, sheriff says

Cherokee County Sheriff Steve Mueller will hold a news conference Friday to address a photo posted on social media that shows a deputy with his foot on a handcuffed man.Mueller said the social media posts compared a deputy’s actions to the George Floyd arrest that resulted in Floyd’s death.”We clearly understand the climate in our community and our nation in regard to law enforcement and the tactics law enforcement use during an arrest,” Mueller said. “This incident should not even remotely be compared to the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota. That incident was repulsive and should have never resulted in the loss of a human life.”The news conference was set for 1 p.m., and in an unusual turn, the man in the picture will also be present, according to a release sent out late Thursday afternoon.Mueller explained the incident that led to the photo in a separate release sent out earlier.Mueller said a local pastor showed him the social media photo Monday.Mueller provided the photo in the release, as well as another photo of the incident from a different angle and a mugshot of the suspect. Both photos show a man on his stomach, handcuffed behind his back and legs tied together at the ankles, face-down on a road, while a deputy stands over him with his foot on his back.Some social media posted called the man “hog-tied.”Mueller said he immediately began the process to validate the picture to determine the officer, date, time and location of the incident.He said the incident was reported about 12:40 p.m. on May 9 when deputies were called to a disabled vehicle at the intersection of SC 105, or Wilkinsville Highway, and East Junior High School Road.Thomas Joseph Meldzuk, 32, of Gaffney was later arrested, according to Mueller.The vehicle was involved in an earlier hit-and-run crash several miles away on Wilkinsville Highway near Chestnut Ridge Road, Mueller said.Meldzuk was threatening several people at the scene, according to Mueller.Deputies at the scene “found the suspect to be very intoxicated,” Mueller said.Deputies handcuffed Meldzuk without incident and put him in a patrol vehicle to wait for Highway Patrol investigators, Mueller said.Meldzuk became belligerent and began to hit his head against communications equipment inside the patrol vehicle, according to Mueller.Officers removed Meldzuk from the vehicle and asked him to sit on the ground in front of the patrol car, Mueller said.While waiting for another transport vehicle, Meldzuk refused to comply with deputies’ orders and began kicking the officers, according to Mueller.Deputies used ankle cuffs and another set of cuffs to restrain Meldzuk to prevent him from further kicking the officer, Mueller said.”At no time was a hogtie device used to restrain the suspect as some have insinuated on social media,” Mueller said. “Officers only used approved restraint devices; officers are prohibited from using a hogtie device that is available on the market.”Meldzuk continued to be combative “and one officer placed his right foot on the suspect’s left arm between the elbow and bicep,” Mueller said.”The officer’s foot or heel rested on the bicep area of the arm and the toe of his boot extended onto a portion of his back,” Mueller further explained.”At no time did the officer use his foot on the suspect’s head or neck area, which some have suggested after seeing the pictures on social media,” Mueller said.Mueller said the second photo he provided clearly shows the placement of the officer’s foot on the suspect.Meldzuk faces a long list of charges, including threatening the life of a public official, DUI, hit-and-run with minor injuries, driving under suspicion and open container, Mueller said.”As your sheriff, I want to clearly get out in front of this incident and share information that provides some context and much needed clarity in regards to the picture circulating on social media,” Mueller said. “The posting of that picture has allowed people to write or share false and inaccurate information.”Mueller said his department’s goal is to be transparent and share facts and relevant information with our community to avoid situations like this.Mueller promised a comprehensive internal review of the incident, and that the State Law Enforcement Division would be called in if warranted.

Cherokee County Sheriff Steve Mueller will hold a news conference Friday to address a photo posted on social media that shows a deputy with his foot on a handcuffed man.

Mueller said the social media posts compared a deputy’s actions to the George Floyd arrest that resulted in Floyd’s death.

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“We clearly understand the climate in our community and our nation in regard to law enforcement and the tactics law enforcement use during an arrest,” Mueller said. “This incident should not even remotely be compared to the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota. That incident was repulsive and should have never resulted in the loss of a human life.”

The news conference was set for 1 p.m., and in an unusual turn, the man in the picture will also be present, according to a release sent out late Thursday afternoon.

Mueller explained the incident that led to the photo in a separate release sent out earlier.

Mueller said a local pastor showed him the social media photo Monday.

Mueller provided the photo in the release, as well as another photo of the incident from a different angle and a mugshot of the suspect.

Both photos show a man on his stomach, handcuffed behind his back and legs tied together at the ankles, face-down on a road, while a deputy stands over him with his foot on his back.

Photo posted to social media of a Cherokee County Sheriff's deputy with a boot on a suspect

Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office

Cherokee County Sheriff provided this photo he said was posted to social media.

Some social media posted called the man “hog-tied.”

Mueller said he immediately began the process to validate the picture to determine the officer, date, time and location of the incident.

He said the incident was reported about 12:40 p.m. on May 9 when deputies were called to a disabled vehicle at the intersection of SC 105, or Wilkinsville Highway, and East Junior High School Road.

Thomas Joseph Meldzuk, 32, of Gaffney was later arrested, according to Mueller.

Thomas Joseph Meldzuk, faces a long list of charges in Cherokee County and was the subject of what the sheriff calls an inaccurate social media post

Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office

The vehicle was involved in an earlier hit-and-run crash several miles away on Wilkinsville Highway near Chestnut Ridge Road, Mueller said.

Meldzuk was threatening several people at the scene, according to Mueller.

Deputies at the scene “found the suspect to be very intoxicated,” Mueller said.

Deputies handcuffed Meldzuk without incident and put him in a patrol vehicle to wait for Highway Patrol investigators, Mueller said.

Meldzuk became belligerent and began to hit his head against communications equipment inside the patrol vehicle, according to Mueller.

Officers removed Meldzuk from the vehicle and asked him to sit on the ground in front of the patrol car, Mueller said.

While waiting for another transport vehicle, Meldzuk refused to comply with deputies’ orders and began kicking the officers, according to Mueller.

Deputies used ankle cuffs and another set of cuffs to restrain Meldzuk to prevent him from further kicking the officer, Mueller said.

“At no time was a hogtie device used to restrain the suspect as some have insinuated on social media,” Mueller said. “Officers only used approved restraint devices; officers are prohibited from using a hogtie device that is available on the market.”

Meldzuk continued to be combative “and one officer placed his right foot on the suspect’s left arm between the elbow and bicep,” Mueller said.

“The officer’s foot or heel rested on the bicep area of the arm and the toe of his boot extended onto a portion of his back,” Mueller further explained.

“At no time did the officer use his foot on the suspect’s head or neck area, which some have suggested after seeing the pictures on social media,” Mueller said.

Cherokee County Sheriff's officer with his boot on man's back who is handcuffed and bound at the ankles on the ground

Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office

Photo provided by Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office

Mueller said the second photo he provided clearly shows the placement of the officer’s foot on the suspect.

Meldzuk faces a long list of charges, including threatening the life of a public official, DUI, hit-and-run with minor injuries, driving under suspicion and open container, Mueller said.

“As your sheriff, I want to clearly get out in front of this incident and share information that provides some context and much needed clarity in regards to the picture circulating on social media,” Mueller said. “The posting of that picture has allowed people to write or share false and inaccurate information.”

Mueller said his department’s goal is to be transparent and share facts and relevant information with our community to avoid situations like this.

Mueller promised a comprehensive internal review of the incident, and that the State Law Enforcement Division would be called in if warranted.