WINONA, MISSISSIPPI - A Montgomery County deputy sheriff might be facing a probable cause hearing for simple assault after the grandmother of a 15-year-old boy alleged Thursday that the deputy used excessive force against the teen.
Deputy Glenn Amason has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation of the incident by an outside law enforcement agency, such as the Mississippi Highway Patrol, according to Montgomery County Sheriff Bill Thornburg.
Thornburg declined to comment further on the alleged incident.
Pam Caldwell, the grandmother of Dustin Graham, said she filed the complaint with the Winona Police Department after Amason confronted Dustin in front of her apartment building in Winona.
On Thursday morning, Dustin was home sick from school. He was outside Caldwell’s City Cafe Apartment on Mississippi 51, because his brother, Christopher Zeigler, 18, was showing him his new car stereo system, Caldwell said.
According to Caldwell, Amason “hit Dustin and throwed him into his truck” over an alleged obscene gesture made by Dustin.
After the incident, Caldwell took Dustin to the hospital where, she said, he was treated for a bruised and swollen nose and then released.
Because the incident happened inside the city limits of Winona, Caldwell contacted the Winona Police Department.
After filing the affidavit against Amason on Thursday, Caldwell said, she spoke to Thornburg.
“He said he did not totally agree with what I did but he understood it,” Caldwell said.
She said there have been several other incidents between Amason and her grandson, most centering on Dustin’s “droopy” pants.
Caldwell said Dustin grew up in a big city with his late mother, and that he’s accustomed to wearing his pants extremely loose.
Montgomery County Prosecutor Lane Greenlee said state law provides for a probable cause hearing in cases where sworn law enforcement officers are accused of a crime during the performance of their official duties.
The hearing, which would be held before a circuit judge, would determine if sufficient evidence exists for an arrest warrant to be issued against Amason for simple assault.
“What I do, I talk to the affiant or any witnesses first. I make an initial evaluation first. I’m not going to waste the judge’s time on something that’s not worth the effort,” Greenlee said.
Asked how long his investigation might take, Greenlee replied, “We’re talking a period of several weeks.”
If convicted of simple assault, Amason could face the possibility of either a $500 fine or six months in the county jail or both.
