A video circulating on social media has drawn significant attention, showing a Pamlico County Sheriff’s deputy striking a man in the head, pushing him against a car, and then forcefully taking him to the ground. The sheriff’s office states that the man was resisting arrest, while some community members have expressed concerns about the level of force used.
Pamlico County resident Denise Jones questioned the actions of the deputy, asking why such force was necessary. Two separate videos have surfaced online, capturing different aspects of the confrontation between deputies and the individual, identified as Darrell Wayne.
According to the sheriff’s office, deputies were at the Hollyville Trailer Park community to serve an arrest warrant for child abuse. Their investigation was based on another video that had been shared within the community, allegedly showing Wayne striking a three-year-old child.
Some residents believe there may have been justification for the deputy’s actions. Donte Signal-Ried commented that such force is usually seen only when someone is being particularly uncooperative while in handcuffs.
WITN reviewed the video that led to the child abuse investigation. In the footage, a man is seen addressing a young child who is lying on a laundry hamper. The man asks the child if he wants to be hit and if he will cry again. He then appears to strike the child in the head. After the child nods in response to being hit, the man instructs him to deny it, saying, “No I didn’t, say no.” At the end of the video, the child is slapped again.
Jones expressed shock over the incident, stating that she could not understand how an adult could harm a young child.
Wayne is now facing multiple charges, including child abuse, resisting a public officer, and assaulting a government official. His total bond has been set at $10,500, and his court hearing is scheduled for April 11 at the Pamlico County Courthouse.
Sheriff Chris Davis has contacted the District Attorney’s office and the State Bureau of Investigation to review the deputy’s actions in the arrest. At this time, no disciplinary measures are being taken against the deputy. Jones emphasized the need for both cases—the alleged child abuse and the arrest—to be handled with fairness and professionalism.
