VOLUSIA EXPOSED

"...stresses the importance of truthfulness in every detail" ~ State Attorney, Phil Archer
(within a February 5, 2016 email to VolusiaExposed.Com)

A Shoddy & Biased Investigation:
The Prologue To A
Law Enforcement Cover-Up

Within our , this publication questioned the validity of local that the events surrounding the December 2018 in-custody death of U.S. military combat veteran Gregory Edwards equated to a justifiable use of force by members of the Brevard County Sheriff's Office (BCSO).

According to the existing reports, to include the "Edwards was arrested on December 9, 2018 by the West Melbourne Police Department for the charges of Battery, Violation of Probation, and Resisting Arrest with Violence."

While being booked into the Brevard County jail, jail staff alleged that Edwards became combative with staff, seriously injuring Deputy Brian Otto.

According to , "Mr. Edwards' violent and unpredictable behavior at the business site where he was arrested prior to being brought to the jail complex is entirely consistent with the violent and unpredictable behavior exhibited at the jail which resulted in the use of force by the deputies. His unlawful and violent resistance to the efforts of the deputies to maintain control over him which resulted in a serious injury to a deputy, completely justified the escalation of use of force techniques to gain control".

Accidental Homicide?

While, State Attorney Archer's letter indicates that the BCSO deputies were justified in the force they applied against Edwards, the local .

This publication is left to ponder, if these collective conclusions (state attorney & medical examiner) have effectively ruled that Edwards' death was connected to an "accidental application of police force"?

BCSO Investigations:
Compromised & Lacking

In addition to the , the Brevard County Sheriff's Office also conducted the .

Investigative Bias

Ideally, the criminal, and internal investigative processes, are conducted independent of each other.

requires that the employing agency conduct an internal investigation. So, ideally, the employing agency would conduct this administrative internal review, while allowing another outside agency, again, usually the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), to conduct the criminal investigation.

Sheriff Ivey "Flip Flops" On Investigative Transparency & Integrity

Sheriff Ivey is very much aware of the importance of separating these investigative processes, and has voiced the same.

On Father's day 2016 (June 19th), , in what has been described as a "road rage" incident.

Initially, Brevard Sheriff Wayne Ivey publicly supported Deputy Hafza's actions, defining the shooting as being in self-defense. However, even given his belief that his deputy had acted in self defense, Sheriff Ivey did allow the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) to conduct the criminal investigation into the shooting, while his BCSO conducted the internal investigation.

Sheriff Ivey's
"Situational Ethics"

After their investigative review, FDLE criminally charged Deputy Hafza with the homicide of Clarence Howard. Shortly later, Sheriff Ivey gave a press conference whereas he voiced the importance of "transparency", and the "integrity of the investigation" as his rationale for allowing the FDLE to conduct the criminal investigation.

However, NOW, in regards to the Edwards' death investigation - in which several BCSO deputies are suspected of excessive force - Sheriff Ivey abandons his principles of "transparency" and insuring the "integrity of the investigation", by having his sheriff department conduct BOTH the criminal and internal investigations. Why is that?

Sounds to us, that Sheriff Ivey may be suffering from a bad case of "situational ethics".

Sheriff Wayne Ivey's June 2016 News Conference On The Howard Shooting

"Cases involving a member of your own agency are best facilitated with complete transparency that ensures public trust while also protecting the integrity of the investigation,"...... "As such, from the very beginning of the incident, I asked FDLE to conduct an independent investigation and present their findings to the state attorney's office for a full review of the facts. Following their review, the state attorney authorized an arrest warrant, which resulted in Yousef Hafza being charged today by FDLE.” ~ Brevard Sheriff Wayne Ivey, regarding the Deputy Hafza / Howard shooting

Click Below To Watch Media Report On Medical Examiner, Dr. Qaiser's Disciplinary Action By State Regulators

Click Here To Review Medical Examiners Commission
Report On Dr. Qaiser

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Click Here To Review BCSO Internal / Administrtive Investigation

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Click Here To Review BCSO Criminal Investigation

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Click Here To Review
Sheriff's Office Media Release

Once Bitten, Twice Shy

In 2016, , therefore, this publication suspects that in 2018, Sheriff Ivey was uncomfortable allowing FDLE to conduct the criminal investigation into the Edwards matter.

Given this publication's review of the Edwards' incident (more on this later), we highly suspect that Sheriff Ivey had some concerns that if he invited the FDLE to investigate the events surrounding Mr. Edwards' in-custody death, that several of his deputies would be criminally charged. It is clear to us (VolusiaExposed.Com), that Sheriff Ivey wanted anything but a "transparent" and "integrity" filled investigation - he needed a cover-up.

In The Heat Of The Night,
Justice Is Still Elusive Within Florida Law Enforcement

Sheriff Ivey wouldn't be the first Florida sheriff that found himself in disagreement with FDLE, on whether one of his deputies was a murderer. It has been just over nine (9) years since St. Johns County Sheriff Deputy Jeremy Banks "discovered" his 24 year old girl friend, Michelle O'Connell, dead from an "alleged" self-inflicted gun shot wound.

St. Johns' Sheriff David Shoar ruled that O'Connell's death was a suicide, , with Deputy Banks being their prime suspect.

Sheriff Ivey was right, regarding his statement in the Howard shooting - for transparency to exist, and in order to protect the integrity of the investigation, it is important that these alleged "in house" criminal matters be investigated by an outside law enforcement agency. However, in regards to the O'Connell shooting, and now the Edwards' in-custody death - Florida appears to have two sheriffs that want anything but "transparency" and "integrity". That, in of itself, is scary - leaving both the O'Connell and Edwards families wondering whether justice will ever prevail?.

Sing It Ray !
"...In the heat of the night
I've got trouble wall to wall
Oh yes I have
I repeat in the night
Must be an ending to us all
Oh Lord, it won't be long
Yes, just you be strong
And it'll be all right
In the heat of the night"

Sheriff Ivey's Self-Imposed Difficulties With The Media

Apparently, Sheriff Ivey's distrust of FDLE, an agency where he was once employed, has now evolved into a mistrust of certain media outlets, in the particular, with the publication .

According to , Sheriff Ivey has advised the publication, that he, nor the Brevard County Sheriff's Office will answer questions from Florida Today, because "we (BCSO) do not consider them to be a credible news source."

Since when does a local sheriff have the credentials to determine, who is or is not a credible news source?

Sheriff Ivey is the elected sheriff for ALL the citizens of Brevard County, and not merely the sheriff for the people, and / or organizations that he has somehow determined to be "credible". A bias is afterall a bias. Due to this bias against Florida Today, in the particular, and in general against many other media outlets, Ivey will continue to erode his credibility. With the lost of his credibility, Ivey will find himself unable to effectively perform his sworn duties as sheriff. Those sworn duties, includes protecting, and defending the Constitution of the United States Of America.

The Washington Post Exposes The True Sheriff Wayne Ivey

Within an , there is a picture of Sheriff Ivey's tattoo of the U.S. Constitution on his arm.

We suggest that Sheriff Ivey takes the time to review the Constitution, particularly the first amendment, whereas it is our hope, that he will realize that the first amendment insures the freedom of the press, and NOT a freedom from the press.

"When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross." ~ Attributed to many

The does a very good job in exposing the true Sheriff Wayne Ivey.

Sheriff Ivey has openly admitted being a fan of President Trump, identifying himself with his own brash, politically incorrect brand of conservative politics."

The Post was also right on target, for Sheriff Ivey does mimick" Trump's "antagonistic political style, alarming progressives, and some legal observers who fear an increasingly undisciplined justice system."

Well, Brevard, you asked for it, he answered, you voted for him, now you have him, along with his ever increasing undisciplined justice system. Still doubtful.... then read on...

The Components Of A Homicide Cover-Up

Ivey's Refusal To Release The Jail Surveillance Video

As was discussed within our , the BCSO investigations confirm that the jail surveillance cameras captured the interactions between the jail deputies and Mr. Edwards.

If it was REALLY Sheriff Ivey's intentions to instill transparency and integrity within the Edwards matter, he would allow the public release of the jail surveillance video.

Behind The Bars - Booking
With Cpl. Collins

However, INSTEAD of releasing the video, Sheriff Ivey has alleging that intelligence information regarding the jail's security or fire safety system could be compromised, if the video is released to the public.

Within a , Mr. Todd Brown, the public information officer for the State Attorney's Office, advised this publication that they also had custody of the jail surveillance video, however, because the

BCSO's "Behind The Bars" - Video Series

In a recently obtained episode of "Behind The Bars" - BCSO Cpl Collins does a documentary on the booking area of the Brevard County jail. -->

We invite our readers to watch the attached BCSO documentary video. This video clearly reveals much more information about the jail's surveillance and fire / security system, than would have been revealed by any mere surveillance video of the Edwards' incident.

Given the "Behind The Bars" video series, it is obvious, that Sheriff Ivey is not against the public seeing the inside of his jail - with the apparent exception of when a U.S. combat veteran is being apparently murdered by BCSO deputies. (Our OPINION)

Surely, since the Edwards surveillance video was provided to the State Attorney's Office for their review - the video should provide evidence that the deputies' applications of force against Mr. Edwards were reasonable, and within the law. It would also identify all the participants, in the application of force against Mr. Edwards. So why not release the video?

Medical Examiner Sajid Qaiser's Past Disciplinary History

The sheriff's changing ethics regarding investigative integrity and transparency, is not the only problem that has attached itself within the Edwards' death investigation.

Some research by this publication, into Dr. Sajid Qaiser's professional history, revealed a disturbing .

(See the attached - above right - video report from Channel 6 News - Orlando)

The is a subsection of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). Maybe, this is an additional rationale for Sheriff Ivey's reluctance in allowing FDLE to conduct the criminal investigation into Mr. Edwards' death?

According to the Probable Cause Panel, in 2014, the family of yet another military veteran, John McDonough, complained that Medical Examiner, Dr. Qaiser failed to properly investigate the circumstances behind Mr. McDonough's death. Dr. Qaiser had also ruled Mr. McDonough's death an "accident".

The Panel's report also documented, that the Brevard County Sheriff's Office, like in their Edwards' death investigation, determined that no criminal intent was attached to Mr. McDonough's death.

In short, the McDonough family disagreed - they had the belief, that McDonough death was possibly criminal in nature, caused by an over-dose of pain medication while in hospice care.

The Probable Cause Panel found that Dr. Qaiser was negligent in his duties, and failed to accurately determine the cause of Mr. McDonough's death. Further, and maybe more importantly, the Panel determined that Dr. Qaiser's negligence was not limited to the McDonough matter, but affected other death investigations. (refer to the attached Probable Cause Panel's report)

So, regardless, of of what a wonderful investigation the BCSO did in determining the facts surrounding Mr. Edwards in-custody death - the truth of the matter appears to support that both BCSO's & Dr. Qaiser's investigative efforts equated to nothing more than . (a known military term - in recognition of both Edwards' & McDonough's service), and once again covering up a probable homicide as an accident.

In May 2016, the Florida Medical Examiners Commission placed Dr. Qaiser on one year probation, . That poor pooch !

Departing Employment While Under Internal Investigation

The recently released BCSO internal investigation indicates that it was completed on July 1, 2019, the very day of

However, there is a problem with that alleged completion date. Florida law requires that law enforcement agencies report the employment departure of any officer (deputy) while they are under internal investigation. When an officer (deputy) departs employment - the employing law enforcement agency must file a , and if necessary a . These forms memorializes the manner of the officer's departure, ie, in good standing, left under under investigation, terminated for a morale character violation, as defined in Florida Administrative Code, Chapter 11B-27

The CJSTC 61 form is used by CJSTC / FDLE to update the officers' (deputy) CJSTC global profile record. According to Blazewicz's and Fayson's CJSTC profiles (see right of page), both departed BCSO's employment in a manner "not involving misconduct". However, since Blazewicz's and Fayson's CJSTC profiles indicate departure dates (April & June 2019) prior to the July 1, 2019 IA completion date, this publication is of the OPINION that both deputies (Blazewicz and Fayson) should have been assigned .

7F. - Voluntary separation or retirement while being investigated for violation of Section 943.13(4), F.S., or violation of moral character standards defined in Rule 11B-27.0011, F.A.C.

On pages sixteen (16) and twenty-one (21), of the , the investigator notes the significance of the employment departures of both deputies, prior to the completion of the investigative process. Based on these investigative statements, both Deputy Blazewicz, and Deputy Fayson should have received "7F" MISCONDUCT employment departure designations on their CJSTC 61 forms. Their FDLE / CJSTC profile reports clearly indicate that the "7F" designations were not used.

So, either the BCSO is lying regarding completing their IA investigation on July 1, 2019, or they filed fraudulent CJSTC 61 / 61A forms to CJSTC / FDLE regarding Deputies Blazewicz's and Fayson's employment departures.

In our OPINION, the BCSO investigations were nothing more than homicide cover-ups, and the CJSTC 61 forms are just further examples of the BCSO covering up for the misconduct of their deputies.

Love, American Style !

Two of the major participants in the Edwards incident were, Deputy (CPL) Brian Otto, and Deputy Alison Blazewizc. Cpl Otto was the jail staff member that was allegedly seriously injuried by Mr. Edwards. We know this because Deputy Otto's name was not properly redacted from the (see page 10). Yet just another example of BCSO's investigative incompetence?

Deputy Otto is also identified as deploying a chemical agent (pepper spray) against Edwards.

Deputy Blazewicz was the deputy that deployed her taser against Edwards. Records support that Blazewicz gave Edwards between three (3) to six (6) engagements of her police taser.

What is of investigative significance to us, is that none of the investigative (criminal or internal) documents mention the apparent fact, that Deputy Otto and Deputy Blazewicz are (were) romantically involved. On-line social media sources provide clear indicators that both deputies are (were) romantically involved. --->

Another indicator of their personal relationship can be found on page nineteen (19) of the , where it is notated, that Deputy Blazewicz escorted Deputy Otto to the hospital.

This writer may have watched too much growing up - but if Lt. Columbo, would have discovered that two suspects in a homicide investigation were romantically involved, this writer is of the OPINION, that the lieutenant would have had some interest in sorting out that romantic affiliation.

Sorry, Lt. Columbo, the BCSO investigations never made particular reference to this romantic relationship.....is that lying by omission???

We can now only speculate what Deputies Blazewicz and Otto discussed about the Edwards' use of force incident, while both of them were in the hospital treatment room. Do you imagine, that they may have gotten their stories straight for the pending investigations?

Isn't it ironic, that while Sheriff Ivey is alleging that Florida Today is not a "credible" news organization, the BCSO's investigation into Edwards' death loses it's own credibility due to never memorializing the personal relationship between Deputies Blazewicz & Otto.
And, if that fact is missing, what other facts are missing? We may never know the actual facts surrounding Mr. Edwards' death, and why is that?

The answer is simple, and Sheriff Ivey actually provided us with the answer during his news conference shortly after the Hafza / Howard shooting.

When police officers (deputies) are suspected of criminal activity, it becomes an absolute requirement that the affected law enforcement agency, allows another independent law enforcement agency to conduct the investigation. Such was not the case in the Edwards' criminal investigation, therefore, per Sheriff Iveys own comments, the BCSO's criminal investigation into Mr. Edwards death has no transparency, or integrity. We (VolusiaExposed.Com) suspect that both Sheriff Ivey and State Attorney Phil Archer know this to be true, but neither would ever admit it.

OUR FINAL THOUGHTS
Nothing New Here, It's The Same Bullshit, In A Different Bag

This reporter comes from a German heritage, so, individuals like Sheriff Ivey are easy to identify, with others in history, who also pushed a hard right political agenda, tattooing themselves, and professing to be the saviors of a certain way of life, while identifying some boogiemen in order to unite people behind their phoney causes.

In the 1930s and 1940s, a former corporal led like Ivey. The corporal's boggiemen were Jews, homosexuals, the mentally and physically impaired, communists, socialists, and the free press, just to name a few.

The corporal ordered the building of a great to keep out an invasion. The corporal wrote and , that was required reading by all that followed him. Does any of this sound vaguely familiar, to current world events?

In the 1970s and 1980s, our country lost a large portion of our automobile manufacturing to our former World War II enemy, the Japanese. This reporter now worries, whether we are destined, in the early twenty-first century, in surrendering our great country's founding priniciples, to the likes of our other World War II enemy, Nazi Germany?

Yeah, the likes of Sheriff Ivey are known to us, he is just the next asshole in line, applying to be a tinpot despot.

We look forward to your comments on this situation.

Drop us a line to let us know what you think.

For those that may hold the belief that we have been a little too hard on the RIGHT - know this, this publication holds BOTH LEFT & RIGHT political positions. We are of the OPINION that the RIGHT needs to be much harder on themselves - and call to quarter, the likes of Sheriff Wayne Ivey.

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