JAMESTOWN, S.C.—Just a short distance outside the Macedonia community lies Jamestown—a small town not just known for its famous “Hell Hole Swamp Festival.” According to the National Motorists Association, it is a thriving speed trap for drivers passing through on Highway 17-A. For folks familiar with that part of Berkeley County, they know to slow down or risk getting a traffic ticket.
For one group of Christian bikers, they associate the town with something more: aggressive driving—not by other motorists but by the town’s own cops.
A group of bikers with Disciple Christian Motorcycle Club claim that on June 21st, a charity ride for the American Diabetes Association hit a sour note when a Jamestown cop caused one of their bikers and 17-year-old passenger to crash to the ground at the intersection of Highway 17-A and Highway 45.
“She is coming along. It is amazing she will have just some scar and no long lasting damage,” said Katheryn Cousins-Brennan, the mother of the 17-year-old. “She had a bad sprain, a few bad abrasions on her hips, back and wrist. It is a miracle she is still with us.”
The town’s police chief, Jay High, told The Post and Courier that while the accident was unfortunate, his officer is not to blame.
“A large group of motorcycles disregarded a stop sign and while a county deputy was attempting a traffic stop from the rear, my officer activated his blue lights and siren and began passing riders on the left, in another lane to catch up to the foremost riders,” High said.
Cousins-Brennan says she’s not surprised that the chief is supporting the officer but says there are two sides to every story.
“My issue is the fact that the officer did not have his sirens on and he was unsafely passing a very large group of bikers,” she said. “I have family in law enforcement, and it is hard to fathom why these officers felt the need to stop a huge group of people, as it is just not safe.”
High released dash cam video to WCBD-TV that he said proves his officer was doing his job correctly.
“It was simply an accident. If you ride a motorcycle, you will eventually go down. Unfortunately, a little too much front brake and it was this guy’s day. And he did go down,” High told the station.
After Cousins-Brennan’s daughter fell off the bike, she says many of the members provided her with first aid, prayed over her, and helped her and other family members get to the hospital.
“They went to my home, picking up a trailer to get our friend’s bike, and took it back to my home, all while we were at the hospital,” said the mother. “They made sure we had what we needed and they showed us love, care and concern, and I have received messages from many of them. This is all more than those officers did.”
Since the crash, members of the biker group have been pretty vocal on social media.
“I see they aren’t showing the cam from the other police car,” wrote one member on the group’s Facebook page.
Another post indicated a possible lawsuit could be in the works against the Jamestown Police Department.
“Prayers on their way for those injured, and may our Heavenly Father have his way in the legal battle to come,” wrote Jon McKenzie.
The mother of the injured teen says after the accident never once did officers ask if the bikers were okay.
“I am not even sure if they called EMS, but my daughter and her driver tumbled approximately 70 feet, and the officer was only concerned about tickets,” she claims. “There was confusion about how the accident was caused, as my other daughter was on another bike at the front of the group, she and others told me that the officer came around, went into the lane, forcing them all off the road after the accident, yelling about the accident at them all, telling them to go back and they were getting tickets,so many believed that they caused it at the time. They never rendered aid or tried to help those injured.”
According to the paper, Charleston lawyer Frank Cornley is representing some of the bikers; however, any litigation is still very much in the early stages.
“We have spoken to our attorney as we need to ensure our daughter’s emergency and follow-up medical bills are taken care of and to protect her interests,” said Cousins-Brennan. ” She will have scars, which is at least better than losing her life, and I thank God daily that she is still with us. I am grateful for the prayers, care and concern of family and friends for helping us get through this. I feel in my heart their aggressive actions, while attempting to pull over about 50 motorcycles for a few who may not have stopped for the stop sign caused this.”
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