Fact Check: Sheriff Ivey was accused of attempting to cover up his force's misconduct, which resulted in Edwards' untimely death.

Fact Check: "Sheriff Ivey was accused of attempting to cover up his force's misconduct, which resulted in Edwards' untimely death."

What We Know

Sheriff Wayne Ivey of Brevard County has faced significant scrutiny regarding the death of Gregory Edwards, a U.S. Army veteran who died in custody in December 2018. Edwards was arrested after an incident linked to his post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and subsequently died following an altercation with corrections deputies at the Brevard County Jail. The initial investigation by the Brevard County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) concluded that the deputies acted within the law and were justified in their use of force against Edwards, which was later supported by the State Attorney's Office (Florida Today).

In June 2020, amid rising public pressure and protests against police misconduct, Sheriff Ivey invited the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) to review the investigation into Edwards' death, marking a notable shift from his previous stance of handling such matters internally (Florida Today). Despite this invitation, Edwards' widow and various community members have expressed dissatisfaction with the transparency of the investigation, particularly regarding the withholding of jail security footage, which they believe could provide clarity on the events leading to Edwards' death (Florida Today).

Analysis

The claim that Sheriff Ivey was accused of attempting to cover up misconduct is supported by multiple sources. For instance, the Latin Times reported that Ivey has a history of being accused of covering up misconduct related to Edwards' death (Latin Times). Additionally, community activists and Edwards' widow have voiced concerns about the lack of transparency and accountability in the investigation, particularly regarding the jail video that remains unreleased (Florida Today).

However, it is important to note that the BCSO's investigation concluded that there was no criminal wrongdoing by the deputies involved, which complicates the narrative of a cover-up. The FDLE's review, as stated by Ivey, is intended to ensure the integrity of the investigation, although critics argue that this is insufficient and that the video should be made public (Florida Today).

The reliability of the sources varies; while mainstream news outlets like Florida Today provide detailed accounts of the events and community reactions, other sources may have a more sensational tone, which could affect their credibility. The Latin Times article, for instance, highlights Ivey's controversial statements and actions, which could be seen as biased against him (Latin Times).

Conclusion

The claim that Sheriff Ivey was accused of attempting to cover up misconduct leading to Gregory Edwards' death is Partially True. While there are credible accusations and community concerns regarding transparency and accountability in the investigation, the official findings by the BCSO and the State Attorney's Office concluded that the deputies acted justifiably. The ongoing debate about the release of the jail video and the invitation for an FDLE review indicates that questions about the integrity of the investigation remain unresolved.

Fact Check: Sheriff Ivey was accused of attempting to cover up his force's misconduct, which resulted in Edwards' untimely death.