Three days after the SBI completed its investigation into a student resource officer allegedly using excessive force on a student at Fletcher Elementary, District Attorney Andrew Murray said Friday, Sept. 23 he will not file charges.
Murray said in a news release Friday that, after a thorough review of the SBI's investigative report regarding the incident involving Henderson County Sheriff's Dep. Alan Brackett on school grounds on May 12, Murray determined the force used by Brackett was not excessive.
With that, Murray said Brackett did not commit any crimes against the juvenile, and, therefore, no charges will be brought.
"I am sensitive to the fact that this incident involved an investigation where a juvenile was involved. It is the obligation of the courts to ensure any law enforcement records concerning a juvenile are withheld from public inspection."
Murray said because of the sensitive nature of the investigation with the involvement of a juvenile, no facts or circumstances about the encounter between Bracket and the child will be released.
A spokesperson from Henderson County Sheriff's Office provided the following statement on Friday:
"The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI) and the District Attorney’s Office for stepping in and taking the time to conduct a thorough and complete investigation of the alleged incident involving our deputy.
We have complete confidence in the investigation and review of all facts and circumstances surrounding this alleged incident. This is a matter involving a juvenile; the NCSBI and the District Attorney’s Office have closed this investigation and no wrongdoing was found on behalf of the deputy. As this investigation is now formally closed, there will be no further comment from the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office."