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CB Other Review of New Ellenton SC
New Ellenton SC

New Ellenton SC review: Police department, judge. 1

E
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2:39 pm EDT
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After my minor child received a traffic citation we requesteda copy of in car camera with audio and body camera footage with audio.
We requested 15 minutes prior and 10 min post traffic stop,
When we received the foia or rule 5 it was not the time we requested and did not have audio.
Body camera was activated only when getting out patrol car when citation given but we received the dash camera video and it did not have audio.
Was told the mic was broke.
Officer gave my minor 3 different speeds she was traveling but was kind enough to change it to careless driving which that money stays in the town.
It took 3 weeks to be told the mic was broke, we requested a copy of the court docket so we could see if this was a habit of trying to stop people not for a traffic crime but to have financial benefits for the town by bogus careless driving tickets but the town said no court docket existed or was available.
Requested a copy of the next traffic stop after my minor was stopped to see if mic was broke then but they refused to release a copy because it would be a invasion of privacy (public record)
We requested a copy of repair or equipment failure complaint invoice to the camera dealer and the town said there was no reference number or supporting documents.
We requested a copy of all tickets written by chief Parks the same day my minor received a citation and they say she wasn't gonna give it to us.
Chief Parks refused to answer us on what was the next step of status on the case or who the judge was.
Chief Parks told us since we didn't get the requested material in time she was gonna ask the judge to continue at another date, but we showed up that day for court only to be told we couldn't go into the court.
We said we would like to speak with the judge, she finally said it was judge Patrick dorn Sullivan and he could not see the case (judge Sullivan had legal issues between him and my father from a land dispute) and he was gonna transfer it.
At that point they wouldn't let us receive any thing requested.
As we were standing in the town hall I saw that judge Sullivan and the chief Parks were taking person that received citations one on one in a private room to discuss their charge.
We have been vaguely communicated with and received no full requested foia.
The towns mayor, police commissioner or clerk will not return email or communicate with us.
I have recently requested another copy of the in dash camera of my child's traffic stop and was informed by chief Parks that she will not fulfill the request cause I don't need another copy.
I told her I know I will have to pay for the copy and for what reason are you not allowing me my right to received requested foia that I pay for.
She again said I was not getting it and didn't need it.
Judge Sullivan should not be discussing our case with the chief who he legally is working for as town of New ellenton.
Chief should not be allowed to go over and discuss the case without subject present.
And why and how is all this foia always what they feel like giving and broken equipment, court records don't exist, and we're not given a redacted copy where fit to be released to public request.
These good Ole boys do to much whatever we want back scratch.
It's our right to pay for requested materials and receive them not them decide for us.
Judge Sullivan shouldn't even be a judge after the multiple times he's been in trouble ethically.
Where is the people that watch out for the people when we want these kinda things going on instead of just telling us go get a lawyer..
They're never held accountable and only watch out for the financial and social benefit for their pals.
This being done of the same related depts that just settled a federal civil rights case involving myself.

Desired outcome: Someone look into this and find out if there's something we missed and why they can just always ignore public requests or have constant equipment failure

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G
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G.
, US
Aug 04, 2023 6:08 pm EDT

Judge Sullivan is notorious in Aiken County for being corrupt and incompetent and for practicing obscene influence peddling and cronyism. He also owns pieces of land all over the county which he bought for $1 each--pretty lucky of him. He is unfit for the bench, and I can't find any qualifying credentials on him anywhere, no JD, etc. I was shocked to find out this corrupt state doesn't even require a judge to have a JD or law experience. Explains a lot. Crooked judge, crooked county.

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El don
North Augusta, South Carolina, US
Aug 06, 2023 9:32 pm EDT
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Replying to comment of G.

Yes, from what we gathered he's very influential to the county justice system and many cases where he's friends or familiar with them don't even make it to court, from dui's to major drug traffickers.

It's ashamed that people like him are able to serve as a judicial figure.

Saw online that he got suspended for code of ethics then lied and they still let him continue to be a judge