RICHMOND COUNTY, Ga. – In the wake of recent arrests linked to the Youngins with Money (Y.W.M.) operation, three officers from Richmond County have been placed on suspension following an incident that unfolded on Tuesday, December 16th.

Richmond County Sheriff Eugene Brantley addressed the media during a press conference held on Tuesday to discuss the situation.

Sheriff Brantley revealed that Deputy Nicholas Boyd received a 10-day suspension due to his conduct during the apprehension of De’Ante Cannon on December 16th. The incident involved a pursuit where canines were used, and upon catching up with Cannon, Boyd resorted to physical force, striking Cannon twice as he resisted arrest.

Although Sheriff Brantley emphasized in his statement that Boyd’s actions were not deemed criminal, he acknowledged that the behavior did not align with the department’s standards and expectations set forth under his leadership.

Sheriff Brantley stated during the press conference that even though Boyd’s actions were not criminal, they did not adhere to the standards the Sheriff has established for the dearptment.

Sheriff Brantley says that Boyd will also undergo additional training.

Also during the press conference, Brantley said that Lieutenant Kyle Gould has also been suspended for six days for taking a photo from a body camera and sharing it.

Shortly after 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 23, RCSO confirmed another individual with the department was suspended in regards to the incident.

Sgt. Eric McCants who also received a five day suspension for “disseminating the photo to other law enforcement officers,” RCSO said.

Cannon was one of the three suspects arrested for Trafficking in Marijuana, Unlawful Participation in Street Gang Activity, and Obstruction of Law Enforcement, and he is accused of being the leader of the gang “Youngins With Money” and being affiliated gang called “Sex Money Murder Bloods.”

Kareem Levon Butler was arrested and charged with Trafficking in Marijuana, and Mikael Javaro Williams was arrested and charged with Trafficking in Marijuana and Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute.

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Sheriff Brantley released his full statement from the press conference on Tuesday:

Statement from Sheriff Brantley

Good afternoon. I want to address the recent search warrant and arrest involving De’Ante Cannon at [2300 block of] Henry Circle and the actions of our deputies during that operation.

First, it is important for the community to understand what our deputies knew going into this warrant service. Mr. Cannon has been described in law enforcement records as a suspected gang-affiliated individual. He is the suspected leader of the violent criminal street gang Youngins With Money and a suspected associate of the Sex Money Murder Bloods. He is a confirmed convicted felon with a history of weapons violations and narcotics distribution. Our investigators had identified him as a high level drug trafficker operating in Augusta, and members of this gang have been involved in multiple shooting incidents this year.

Based on our deputies’ training and experience, when individuals with this background are confronted, especially during active gang conflicts, there is a very real risk they may be armed and prepared to use violence. That information matters. It shapes how deputies approach a situation and the level of threat they reasonably perceive in the moment.

During the execution of the warrant, one suspect surrendered without incident. Another fled but surrendered after being taken to the ground. Mr. Cannon also fled on foot and was taken to the ground by deputies. At that point, he resisted efforts to place him in handcuffs.

In that struggle, Deputy Nicholas Boyd struck Mr. Cannon twice to gain compliance. Under the law, that level of force can be legally justified when a suspect is actively resisting arrest, particularly when deputies reasonably believe the suspect may be armed and dangerous. We do not ignore the risks our deputies faced in that moment, and we take into account what they knew about Mr. Cannon and the threat he potentially posed. As is our policy after any use of force arrest, the body worn camera video is reviewed by supervisory personnel.

However, legality alone is not our standard. We hold ourselves to a higher expectation.

In this case, while the force used was within the bounds of the law, it was not consistent with what I expect from our deputies.

We teach our deputies a simple principle. “Just because you can does not mean you should.”

That principle applies here.

As a result, Deputy Boyd has been suspended for 10 days and will undergo additional training focused on arrest and control techniques, team tactics, and decision making under stress. During this training period, he will be assigned to court services. This is about correcting behavior, reinforcing expectations, and ensuring we continue to improve.

Additionally, Lt. Kyle Gould took a photograph of Mr. Cannon from body worn camera footage and shared it. That is a violation of our policy and our professional standards. He has also been suspended for six days. We will not tolerate the misuse of sensitive images or information, regardless of the circumstances of the arrest.

Let me be very clear. I support our deputies when they act in good faith to protect themselves and this community. Serving high risk warrants on violent offenders is dangerous work, and our people step into that danger every day. At the same time, accountability is not optional. Professionalism is not optional. We can acknowledge the risks deputies face while still holding them responsible for how they respond. We are committed to transparency and accountability while also ensuring due process for all involved.

No arrest where an individual does not want to be arrested will ever look good on camera. The best advice we can give is simple. If deputies are there for you or you are told you are under arrest, stop and place your hands on top of your head. Save the arguments for court. Do not run, because you will most likely be taken to the ground, and that rarely ends well. Everyone deserves their day in court, and that is our goal every day.

Our community deserves both safety and trust. We will continue to aggressively target violent gangs and drug traffickers who harm this community. And we will continue to hold ourselves to the highest standards in how we do that work.

That is my commitment as your Sheriff.