The Columbus Police Department disciplined officers and reworked its search policy after a suspect was turned in to the Lowndes County Adult Detention Center with a pistol in his jacket in November.
Vanquez Fox, 22, of 1801 Third Ave. S., was stopped by officers Nov. 12 on the 1900 block of College Street for an outstanding domestic violence warrant. Fox was handcuffed and was being searched by officers when his brother, Sugi Fox, became agitated and threatening toward officers. The Foxes” mother, Hilda Fox, attempted to calm Sugi but the situation continued to escalate.
Because of Sugi Fox”s long history of legal problems and willingness to physically engage police officers, the officers on the scene cut short their search of Vanquez Fox and placed him in a police cruiser to be removed from the scene.
Vanquez Fox was transported to the Lowndes County Detention Center, where a full search revealed a loaded .45 semi-automatic pistol in the pocket of a large coat he was wearing. He was charged with domestic violence and carrying a concealed weapon.
When informed of the weapon on Fox”s person, the CPD immediately launched an internal investigation.
Following the investigation, the arresting officer and the shift leader on duty were subjected to corrective discipline, rather than punitive discipline, and the personal search policy was amended.
Chief Joseph St. John would not comment on the exact nature of the officers” discipline.
“We tightened up the (personal search) policy. We don”t want anybody to get hurt,” he said. “We learn from everything we do.”
The policy now requires a thorough search of all detainees under all circumstances, even if circumstances at the scene necessitate moving the suspect to another location to complete the search.
Jason Browne was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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