08/20/2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Resident Name Withheld Pending Filing — Contact on Request
Date: August 20, 2026
Location: Bryan County, Georgia
Bryan County Resident Alleges Obstruction of Citizen’s Arrest at Sheriff’s Complex; Reports Incident to FBI and News Media
BRYAN COUNTY, Ga. — A Bryan County resident is alleging that Bryan County Sheriff Mark Crowe and multiple deputies blocked an attempted citizen’s arrest of a deputy who is the subject of an active internal affairs complaint.
According to the resident’s account, the incident occurred on August 19, 2026, at the Bryan County Sheriff’s Complex. The resident states he went to the complex to report an alleged civil rights violation committed by a deputy against another citizen. He states he had video recorded from a distance days earlier to corroborate the claim. The resident also states the deputy that took the report is already the subject of an active internal affairs complaint.
The resident alleges the following sequence of events:
1. Deputy Valdez was dispatched to take his report, with another deputy arriving and remaining within earshot.
2. After verbally completing his statement, the resident returned to his vehicle to retrieve video evidence.
3. While preparing to show the video to Deputy Valdez, he noticed an individual behind him attempting to view the video. The resident states he recognized the individual as the deputy named in his complaint, and that the deputy confirmed his identity when asked.
4. The resident questioned why the deputy did not recuse himself from the complaint process, given that he was the subject of the report.
5. The resident states he then attempted to request Deputy Valdez to place the deputy under citizen’s arrest as he was attempting to abscond.
6. At that point, the resident alleges Sheriff Mark Crowe and at least five deputies escorted the deputy in question into a restricted, authorized-personnel-only area and locked the door before his questions were answered.
The resident further states that on the morning of August 20, 2026, he drove to the FBI Savannah Field Office and to WTOC-TV to report what he describes as corruption involving Sheriff Crowe and at least nine members of the Bryan County Sheriff’s Office.
The Bryan County Sheriff’s Office has not issued a public response to these allegations as of the time of this release. All allegations remain claims made by the resident and have not been independently verified. A formal request for comment and public records has been made to the Bryan County Sheriff’s Office.
MEDIA DISTRIBUTION LIST - SAVANNAH / BRYAN COUNTY REGION:
This press release is being distributed to all major local outlets for review and follow-up:
- Television:
- WTOC 11 - CBS
- WSAV News 3 - NBC
- WJCL 22 - ABC
- WTGS Fox 28
- Print / Digital:
- Savannah Morning News
- Bryan County News
- The Coastal Courier - Hinesville
- Connect Savannah
- The Savannah Tribune
- Grice Connect / Bryan County Media
- Radio:
- iHeartMedia Savannah - WTKS 1290 AM / 97.3 FM
- WSAV Radio
- Federal / Official Notice:
- FBI - Savannah Resident Agency
Editor’s Note: Video evidence referenced by the complainant is available for review by credentialed press and investigating agencies upon request.
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GrayEmpire34 Corporation
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