The Rincon City Councilman under fire for meddling in traffic stops and other police business recently told police to leave the scene of an incident in which they were offering assistance to the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office.
TGV News received an additional report under the Georgia Open Records Act on Tuesday morning following a request made related to an ongoing investigation into the acts of Councilman Levi Scott.
The latest ‘Informational Report’ was written by a deputy with the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office who recently encountered Scott during a traffic stop in the parking lot at Cuts by Eric. Both Eric Hill, who is running for city council, and Levi Scott, who is currently on city council in Rincon, were listed as persons involved in the report.
ECSO Deputy Daniel Handshumaker wrote the report on August 31, 2023 just after the incident occurred. At that time, Hill and Scott reportedly became angry because the traffic stop occurred in the parking lot of the barber shop. Handshumaker initiated the stop on the roadway and the parking lot of the barber shop is where the motorist chose to stop.
On 08/31/2023 I stopped a vehicle that pulled into Cuts by Eric. During the traffic stop the owner ERic Hills came out and was yelling something and pointing at deputies. I conducted my traffic stop and when I finished, Eric came back out yelling about the stop being in his parking lot and city councilman, Levi Scott told Eric to go back inside. Levi approached my vehicle.
Levi asked what was going on and I advised him a traffic stop. I then told Levi to call Eric back outside so we all could have a talk about interfering with a traffic stop. LEvi called ERic outside. Rincon Police Department responded to back me up on this incident. I advised Eric and Levi that we could not help when we conduct a traffic stop and they pull into his parking lot. They were advised that we are not bothering the barber shop we are conducting traffic stops. Levi then looked at Rincon Police Department officers and I advised him that they were there for me. Levi then asked where Officer Hayes was. LEvi turned to Officer Hayes and advised him that Rincon Police Officers could leave the scene. I then advised Levi that they were there as my back up and he did not have the right to tell them to leave. I advised Levi and Eric that I do not answer to a city council, I answer to the Sheriff and they did not look like the Sheriff. Levi then brought up the other traffic stop from earlier this week and I again advised Levi that traffic stops has nothing to do with the business or the city council. I advised them that from now on they needed to stay out of the traffic stops and not try and run them.
ECSO Report by Deputy Handshumaker
The report is being published as the dash camera audio was largely inaudible due to music playing in the background. It summarizes the exchange between the deputy and Scott.
As previously reported:
Doing a great job……would like some inside on the tyrants at the bulloch county sheriffs office…..sounds as if you know its out of control….heard yall were good buddies……
[…] Media report no. 2. […]
Whoa, just read about Councilman Levi Scott’s interference in a traffic stop incident. Not cool. Officers are just doing their job, and it’s not city council’s business. Kudos to Deputy Handshumaker for standing firm! 🚔👏