Photo: Getty Images
A North Carolina sheriff's deputy has been put on leave after he was caught on camera dismissing a Black woman's harassment complaint.
In a now-viral TikTok video, the woman, who identifies as Veleria Levy on social media, shared footage of her encounter with Cabarrus County Capt. Chris Measimer at a fair in Concord, North Carolina.
Levy said she was canvassing for the Democratic Party at the fair when a group of four people approached her to talk about Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. The discussion escalated into a heated argument, prompting Levy to report the group to the fair manager. The manager then directed her to the sheriff's office booth to submit her complaint.
After speaking with the sheriff's office, deputies ordered Levy and the group to leave the fairgrounds for disrupting the event. Measimer appeared to dismiss Levy's complaint due to her race.
“You’re giving attitude. I can see why they probably didn’t get along with you,” Measimer said.
“No, because I am standing up for myself. I’m Black, so I’m giving attitude,” Levy replied.
“I don’t wanna hear that Black crap,” Measimer shot back.
The Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office said they launched an investigation into the incident after Levy submitted the video to deputies.
“There were videos brought to our attention in reference to Captain Measimer’s response to a citizen at the county fair, and we took immediate action by placing him on Administrative leave,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement. “After an Internal Affairs investigation, disciplinary action was taken.”
The sheriff's office added that it spoke to Levy and she's “satisfied with the actions taken.”
“We hold all members of our department to the highest standards of respect and professionalism, and any behavior that undermines those values is not tolerated,” the statement read. “We hope to continue fostering a community built on trust and respect and are grateful for the opportunity to learn from mistakes.”
The Black Information Network is your source for Black News! Get the latest news 24/7 on The Black Information Network. Listen now on the iHeartRadio app or click HERE to tune in live.