I-TEAM UPDATE: A look at the details in recent Richmond County investigators’ arrest

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - An update from our I-TEAM raises questions about the timing of the arrests of two Richmond County Sheriff’s Office investigators after an incident nearly two years ago.

Johnny Atkinson, 45, is charged with one count of aggravated assault, one count of battery and violation of oath of a public officer. Austin Birch, 27, is charged with one count of battery and violation of oath of a public officer.

On Monday, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office made three more arrests.

Investigators say the arrests are tied to unnecessary force.

According to a news release from the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, its Internal Affairs Division claims it became aware of an incident on Thursday that occurred on May 7, 2022, at the Charles B. Webster Detention Center.

However, our I-TEAM has uncovered the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office has known about this incident for at least six months.

That’s because the I-TEAM first showed the sheriff’s office – and all of you at home – some video of the incident in question this summer. We first aired it during this I-Team investigation back in July.

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That’s not the only time those at the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office could have seen it.

The timing of these arrests – almost 2 years later – might not be a coincidence.

The body-worn camera video begins as deputies are called to the Charles B. Webster Detention Center for a riot.

In the news release sent last week, deputies clarified it was for “unruly inmates.”

Sources tell the I-TEAM inmates had popped off sprinkler heads to flood the jail in protest of plumbing problems, such as toilets not working. A source tells the I-TEAM it’s not that unusual for inmates to do this to draw attention to something but responding deputies likely did not know that.

In that video, now-former Richmond County deputy Quincy Cannon alleges you can see Richmond County deputy Johnny Atkinson “choking” an inmate. He makes that claim in a document sent to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office on January 1, 2024.

That’s not all.

Cannon also sent the video in an email back in November to Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree and to then-Chief Deputy Patrick Clayton.

Cannon also included all Augusta Commissioners, Augusta’s mayor, and Augusta District Attorney Jared Williams in that same email.

Again, Cannon included the very same video the I-TEAM first raised questions about back in July.

This jail incident hasn’t exactly been a secret.

Far from it.

The I-TEAM first included it in our reporting when Cannon and Robert Wilson first broke their silence about what really happened the night a fellow Richmond County deputy was shot in the face.

Cannon, Wilson and Andrew Acosta were arrested after the suspect, Vernon Cratic, Jr., claimed they assaulted him.

Each told the I-TEAM his body-worn camera died at the scene.

Cratic then claimed he was beaten while handcuffed once the deputies were able to get him alone in the elevator.

Surveillance video captured their arrival at the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.

“I’m thinking there’s cameras at the sheriff’s office or in the elevator,” said Quincy. “Apparently, there’s no cameras in the elevator.”

“We thought cameras was all over the place,” added Wilson.

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“Yes,” agreed Cannon. “It’s the sheriff’s office.”

Had cameras been rolling, Cannon says we would’ve seen Cratic try to head-butt them.

He says his training kicked in and he responded appropriately. Wilson said he never saw anything and was charged because of his “willful blindness.” Wilson says he was told since he was there, he had to know about it.

“‘I was like, ‘Even though my back was turned?’ He was like, ‘Yeah, you failed to report it, ‘” Wilson said. “I was like, ‘Report what? Something I didn’t see?’”

A Grand Jury decided not to indict the deputies, clearing them of all criminal charges.

District Attorney Jared Williams took it a step further and signed a document that expunged them of all charges.

Here’s where that jail video comes in.

Cannon and Wilson believe it showed a double standard at the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.

Back in July, Atkinson and Birch hadn’t been arrested yet.

No one had, but the I-TEAM had also recently uncovered Deputy Ty Dailey punched an arrestee in the face several times and did not report it, and he wasn’t disciplined until the I-TEAM exposed it.

The I-TEAM has since confirmed Dailey is once again under investigation – this time for a deadly accident in his patrol car.

“I’m trying to figure out the difference between the two,” Cannon said. “You got Stack A over here involving a Hispanic deputy, a Black MP and a white deputy. You got Stack B over here involving two Caucasian deputies. ‘Let’s burn them. Let’s give them a second chance.’”

They also pointed to Deputy Brandon Keathley.

He’s still on istrative leave with pay.

The I-TEAM has since been able to show you video of Keathley hitting a fellow deputy in the back of the head with a flashlight. A Grand Jury indicted Keathley on felony charges.

He still hasn’t been to trial. He also still hasn’t been to work, and he’s still collecting a paycheck three years after his arrest.

That brings us back to the jail video and the incident from two years ago.

Quincy Cannon has been exploring his legal options.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission closed his case on Feb. 5, 2024.

That’s when records show he got his “right to sue” letter. All along, he’s publicly questioned how the jail incident was handled.

Three days after his “right to sue” letter, Internal Affairs claimed it became aware of the jail incident. The next day, both deputies were arrested.

Cannon and Wilson declined to be interviewed again on Monday – but they both say they are planning to sue.

Cannon says he wanted to handle this privately, and he tried to get the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office to sit down for mediation three times.

He says they refused.

He also says he sent that very public email, including that jail video, to Augusta leaders to try to get them to come to the table.

Again, he says that never happened.

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