Man lost teeth & broke his jaw, SC official says. Now deputy who did it is going to prison
A former sheriff’s deputy in South Carolina is going to prison after being convicted of using excessive force during a violent arrest, according to the 5th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.
On Friday, a jury found former Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office deputy Johnathan Goldsmith guilty of second-degree assault and battery as well as misconduct of office charges, the solicitor’s office said in a news release.
Goldsmith was sentenced to one year in the South Carolina Department of Corrections, according to the release.
The incident happened Oct. 15, 2020, the solicitor’s office said.
Goldsmith was dispatched to investigate a suspicious vehicle parked at Abney Baptist Church, according to the release. Goldsmith found the car and its occupant, who he patted down after seeing an empty gun holster in the passenger seat, the solicitor’s office said.
He then told the man to place his hands behind his back to detain the defendant, but as Goldsmith tried to secure the handcuffs, the man pulled his right arm away, according to the release.
Goldsmith then hit the man in the head and neck area before using a tripping technique, causing the man to collapse to the ground, the solicitor’s office said. Body camera footage and a church surveillance camera captured Goldsmith delivering multiple punches to the man while he was on the ground in handcuffs, ultimately knocking out the man, according to the release.
The man regained consciousness about a minute later and actively resisted when Goldsmith attempted to place him in the patrol vehicle, leading to a 5-6 minute struggle where Goldsmith shockedthe victim with a Taser, repeatedly punched him, pepper-sprayed and hit him with a baton, then forcefully closed the vehicle door on the man’s foot, the solicitor’s office said. Goldsmith closed the door on the victim’s legs several times, according to arrest warrants shared by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.
Following the assault, Kershaw County Emergency Medical Services arrived to find Sims missing two teeth, which they collected before taking him to an area hospital, according to the release. A CT scan at the hospital revealed the victim suffered a broken jaw in two places, the solicitor’s office said.
“This is NOT acceptable conduct from a KCSO deputy,” Kershaw County Sheriff Lee Boan said in 2020. “What shocked me even more was that my deputy did not immediately render aid or call for medical assistance.”
In Nov. 2020, the sheriff’s office said Goldsmith had been fired, and the solicitor’s office asked SLED lead a criminal investigation. Following an investigation, SLED charged Goldsmith in January 2021.
“One of my duties in this role is to protect citizens in the 5th Circuit from abusive police practices,” Solicitor Byron Gipson said in the release. “This is the case where one officer made a series of poor decisions on Oct. 15, 2020, for which he has now been held accountable. His actions are not reflective of the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office or law enforcement as a whole.”
Goldsmith was a decorated deputy, and in December 2019, he was named the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Foundation Deputy of the Year, the Chronicle-Independent reported.
Gipson and Assistant Solicitor Paul Walton prosecuted the case.
“We are pleased with the jury’s decision to hold Johnathan Goldsmith accountable,” Walton said. “Law enforcement works very hard each and every day to serve and protect the community. This officer’s actions are not reflective of what law enforcement stands for. In October 2020, he violated the public’s trust, and for that, he has been held accountable.”
