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 serious allegations regarding the death of Gregory Lloyd Edwards, a U.S. Army veteran, who died in a restraint chair while in custody at the Brevard County Jail in December 2018. Edwards was arrested after an incident related to his post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and subsequently died following an altercation with corrections deputies. Reports indicate that Sheriff Ivey was accused of attempting to cover up misconduct related to Edwards' death (Florida Sheriff Who Threatened to Kill Protesters Has History of ...).
In a significant development, Ivey invited the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) to review his office's investigation into Edwards' death, which was seen as a reversal of his previous stance against third-party scrutiny (Sheriff Ivey invites FDLE to review Edwards death investigation). Despite this invitation, Ivey has been criticized for not releasing the jail security footage of the incident, which many believe could provide clarity on the events leading up to Edwards' death (Brevard County Sheriff Ivey transparency in Edwards case questioned).
Analysis
The claim that Sheriff Ivey was accused of attempting to cover up misconduct is substantiated by multiple sources. The allegations stem from the circumstances surrounding Edwards' death, which raised questions about the actions of the deputies involved and the transparency of the investigation conducted by Ivey's office. A federal judge later ruled that the jail staff did not violate Edwards' constitutional rights, but this ruling does not negate the accusations of cover-up (Federal judge sides with Ivey in civil rights case over Edwards death).
Critically, the reliability of the sources discussing Ivey's alleged misconduct and the cover-up claims varies. The report from Latin Times highlights Ivey's controversial history, including accusations of corruption and racial profiling, which lends weight to the claims of misconduct (Florida Sheriff Who Threatened to Kill Protesters Has History of ...). However, it is essential to consider that some sources may have a particular bias against Ivey, which could affect the portrayal of events.
The invitation for an FDLE review was a notable shift in Ivey's approach, suggesting that external pressure, including public protests and scrutiny, may have influenced his decision (Sheriff Ivey invites FDLE to review Edwards death investigation). Nonetheless, the lack of transparency regarding the jail footage remains a critical point of contention among Edwards' family and advocates for justice, further fueling the narrative of a potential cover-up (Brevard County Sheriff Ivey transparency in Edwards case questioned).
Conclusion
The claim that Sheriff Ivey was accused of attempting to cover up his force's misconduct, which resulted in Edwards' untimely death, is True. The evidence from various reports indicates that there were significant allegations of misconduct surrounding the circumstances of Edwards' death and that Ivey's actions, including the refusal to release critical evidence, have led to accusations of a cover-up.
