AUGUSTA (WJBF) – Saturday evening, March 25th, shortly after 8:00 p.m. Sgt. Allen Crispin was attending Latin Fest at the Augusta Common when he witnessed an act of physical child abuse. 

According to the Burke County Sheriff’s Office, preliminary findings revealed Crispin, his wife, and brother-in-law heard an infant crying and they looked in the direction of the cry to investigate the matter when they saw a man slap an infant child in the face.

The child, seated in a baby stroller continued to cry as they started to leave the area.

A woman, who appeared to be with the male and infant, walked hurriedly behind as the adults started to verbally argue. 

Deputy Ty Hester w/RCSO Sheriff Richard Roundtree – Courtesy of RCSO

As a result, Crispin followed them as he walked towards a nearby Richmond County Sheriff’s  Deputy (later Identified as Sgt. Ty Hester) who was working the special duty assignment at the event.

After reporting the event to the Deputy, Crispin and the Deputy became involved in a verbal altercation, which resulted in Crispin’s arrest by the Deputy.

Crispin was subsequently committed to the Richmond County Detention Center on a county  ordinance charge of disorderly conduct. 

He was later released from custody and sought medical attention for numbness in both hands and shoulders.

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office released the following statement about the incident:

On March 25, 2023, at approximately 8:15 pm while working a special duty event at the Augusta Common, Richmond County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Ty Hester was approached by an unknown male who was later identified as Sgt. Allen Crispin of the Burke County Sheriff’s Office. Sgt. Crispin advised Sgt. Hester that a child was slapped by an unknown male who was accompanied by an unknown female. Sgt. Crispin gave no description other than the child was in a stroller. Sgt. Hester recalled that a few minutes prior, he observed a couple with a child in a stroller, but the child was not crying, and the couple appeared to be having a normal conversation. Sgt. Hester pointed out the couple and child to Sgt. Crispin, and Sgt. Crispin was uncertain whether this was the same couple and child. Sgt. Crispin then returned to the event.

At approximately 8:45 pm, Sgt. Crispin approached Sgt. Hester a second time in an aggressive manner and called him a derogatory name. Sgt. Hester tried to verbally deescalate the situation advising Sgt. Crispin to continue walking and leave the area. Sgt. Crispin continued to be loud and uncooperative by not leaving and using more profanity. Sgt. Hester repeatedly instructed Sgt. Crispin to stop using profanity in front of families attending the event and to leave the area. After multiple times of refusing Sgt. Hester’s request, Sgt. Crispin was arrested and charged with Disorderly Conduct.

This incident will follow the same course as any other criminal investigation, and no other information will be provided at this time

-Statement from RCSO

The case has been assigned to the Internal Affairs Division.

Any witnesses or other persons with information regarding the incident and/or the identity of the persons involved in the physical child abuse incident are asked to contact law enforcement authorities.