Multiple sources have confirmed to The Dispatch that Columbus police are investigating Ward 4 Councilman Pierre Beard’s involvement with a suspect charged with two June 25 armed robberies outside Waffle House.
Police Chief Joseph Daughtry told The Dispatch that Beard was at the scene of the robberies and investigators have questioned the councilman since. But no other arrest warrants have been issued in the case.
“Yes he was there, along with 30 to 40 other people that we’re currently bringing in … as we can get them in to put all the pieces of the puzzle together,” Daughtry said. “… We have to talk to everyone, from the cooks to the people who were out there, to make sure our case is rock solid.”
Quavis Shawnterris Betts, 28, is charged with robbing two victims at gunpoint outside Waffle House on Highway 45 at about 2 a.m. After responding to the scene and getting a description of the suspect, officers quickly found and arrested Betts trying to enter a room at La Quinta Inn, located across the highway from the eatery.
Daughtry confirmed the room where Betts was arrested was booked in Beard’s name.
Three sources who have seen Waffle House surveillance footage of the robberies, and asked not to be named due to the ongoing investigation, said Beard can be seen in the video interacting with the suspect. Two of those sources said Beard is seen at one point grabbing Betts’ arm in an apparent attempt to calm him down.
“You know what really bothers me?,” Daughtry told The Dispatch. “We had two security guards out there, and they didn’t do a thing. They didn’t even call the police.”
Daughtry declined to comment on whether Beard called the police.
Beard did not answer a call from The Dispatch on Tuesday, but he did respond to an initial text requesting an opportunity to speak with him. When The Dispatch laid out in a followup text the subject matter and nature of the questions, Beard did not respond by press time.
Daughtry said neither Beard nor anyone else would receive “special treatment” during the investigation.
“We’re going to do our due diligence, and if (another) arrest needs to be made, we’ll make it,” he said.
Public Information Officer Johanah Owusu initially told The Dispatch that Betts was arrested at the Motel 6. Daughtry confirmed it was La Quinta.
Zack Plair is the managing editor for The Dispatch.
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