SLED finds no evidence for North Charleston councilman’s allegations against police officer

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – A North Charleston Councilmember accused a North Charleston police officer of misconduct after an interaction from a noise complaint lodged at the councilman’s business. The State Law Enforcement Division says no evidence supports the councilman’s claims of criminal activity.

In February, Sgt. James Ryan responded to The Montague Room on Dorchester Road after receiving a noise complaint, according to a North Charleston Police incident report.

In bodycam footage released of the incident, Sgt. Ryan can be heard telling the DJ and other individuals that he could hear the music while at another location on Dorchester Road. He tells the DJ they received a noise complaint and asks him to turn it down.

North Charleston City Councilman Jerome Heyward, who co-owns the lounge, walked up shortly after and discussed the noise situation with the officer, saying he would handle it.

The music stays the same, and Sgt. Ryan returns. Heyward tells Sgt. Ryan that the music is not bothering anyone and will not turn it down. Sgt. Ryan says he will write the DJ a ticket, and then Heyward calls Deputy Chief Karen Cordray.

As Sgt. Ryan was leaving; the DJ was taking down his equipment at 12:40 a.m.

The North Charleston Police Department reviewed the incident and found that Sgt. Ryan followed all department standards.

Heyward then filed a formal complaint accusing Sgt. Ryan of falsifying the police report by saying Sgt. Ryan could not have heard the music from far away, and he was not impaired. He called the officer’s statements ‘libelous’ and ‘inflammatory.’

Sgt. Ryan claimed he had met Heyward when he was intoxicated before in the incident report. Heyward said this was false. He also said Sgt. Ryan had no right to have them turn their music off and be threatening and aggressive towards them.

After the formal complaint, NCPD Chief Greg Gomes wrote to SLED requesting they investigate the matter on Apr. 10. Special agents interviewed Sgt. Ryan and Heyward, as well as several other parties.

SLED Capt. Shaun Harley had the case closed “due to no evidence of criminal activity being identified in the investigation,” a case status report says.

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