Columbus County Sheriff responds to second allegation of abusive behavior during arrest, victim speaks out

TABOR CITY, NC (WWAY) — For the second time in a month, Columbus County Sheriff Bill Rogers is responding to allegations of abusive behavior by his deputies during an arrest.

More than two weeks ago, the Sheriff’s Office said Thomas Manning III led law enforcement officers on a chase, which ended in the driveway of his Tabor City home.

“Opened the door and I got out of my truck and I turn this way and next thing I know, they grabbed me, slammed me and shoe went flying off about 5 feet that way,” Manning said.

Manning claimed he was severely injured.

“And when they slammed me down, it happened so quick,” Manning said. “Somebody was trying to break my arm. I kept telling my son, you know, hey, you need to film this, you need to film this, you know these people are trying to hurt me and break my arm. Luckily, he started filming because he had his phone on him. But somebody had punched me in the head here, and I had, I had a bad gash right here that was bleeding pretty bad.”

But in a video posted Thursday on the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page, Sheriff Bill Rogers said Manning’s account of what happened and has been publicized isn’t true.

Rogers said investigators attempted to pull Manning over after he failed to stop at a stop sign.

The sheriff goes on to say Manning sped away, reaching speeds of 85 miles per hour, and the chase ended outside Manning’s home.

“I want to reiterate that Manning was not pulled from his vehicle, nor was he beaten by my investigators,” Rogers said. “Social media outlets created to divide are promoting their biased point of view.”

Manning was taken to the hospital.

He had a sprained arm and got a band aid on his head, according to the sheriff.

Manning was then booked at the county’s detention center and given a $5,000 secured bond.

But Manning said regardless of what they accuse him of doing, “that’s not right, you know. Even if I was wrong for doing something or whatever they say, that doesn’t give you the right to physically, you know, hurt somebody like that.”

WWAY reached out to Sheriff Rogers on Friday via email and phone to see if he had anything to add, but we have not heard back at this time.