ROCKINGHAM — The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is now looking into an arrest that was live streamed on social media at the Richmond Senior football game last week, an agency spokesperson confirmed.
The SBI’s involvement comes at the request of Sheriff James Clemmons and District Attorney Reece Saunders, according to Anjanette Grube, public information director.
“We are reviewing any and all available video of the incident and the actions of all involved,” she said in an email Tuesday morning.
Grube said the SBI will complete its investigation and turn its findings over to the DA’s office for review.
Clemmons said Tuesday that the reason for bringing in the state agency is for “transparency and seeking the truth.”
He reiterated his statement from Monday, saying wherever the facts lead, he will “act accordingly.”
As for the deputies involved in the arrest, the sheriff said, “Their status has not changed at this moment.”
The investigation centers around the arrest of Stephen Sings Sr., 43, of Charlotte at Raider Stadium.
Sings, who goes by Stephen Black on Facebook, went live he tried to find a deputy to ask why his son was arrested. When the deputy refused to tell him, Sings insisted it was his “duty” to talk to him. At that point, the deputy told Sings to put his hands behind his back.
An altercation soon ensued eventually involving five deputies and resulting in Sings being tazed multiple times and, according to court documents, two deputies receiving cuts and bruises.
Sings is facing a dozen charges: two felony counts of assault with physical injury on a law enforcement, probation or parole officer; five misdemeanor counts of resisting a public officer; three counts of assault on a government official or employee; and one count each of disorderly conduct and injury to personal property.
His bond was reduced Monday from $150,000 secured to $15,000 unsecured.
The arrested son, Stephen Kernal Sings, had been arrested and charged with disorderly conduct. He was jailed under a $500 secured bond and was released Saturday afternoon.
They are both scheduled to appear in court Jan. 2, 2020.
