Cop Throws Innocent Disabled Man to the Ground and Stomps on His Head for Not Moving Quickly Enough

Clarence Gailyard, 58, a handicapped man, discovered this the hard way this week when he was assaulted by police for just strolling down the street. On July 26, Gailyard and a buddy were walking through his neighborhood when Orangeburg police officer David Dukes approached them, claiming to be responding to a report about a guy with a pistol. Without informing them of his reason for stopping them, Dukes drew his pistol and ordered the two guys to the ground at gunpoint. Despite the fact that they had committed no wrong, neither guy objected, and they both quickly obeyed.

Gailyard has several pins and rods in his leg as a result of the surgery he had after a vehicle accident. As a consequence of his injuries, he often uses a cane and is sluggish. While he was following the jackboot's commands, his injuries made it impossible for him to swiftly fall to the ground. Officer Dukes was enraged by Gailyard's sluggish motions and began to accelerate his activities by pounding his head onto the concrete.

Dukes approached the victim, who was helpless on his hands and knees, lifted his right leg, and "forcibly stomped with his boot on the victim's neck and/or head region," according to South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) investigators. According to SLED, the victim's head struck the concrete as a result of the force of the hit. Gailyard's head was slammed onto the pavement by the officer's foot, resulting in a gash on his forehead, necessitating hospitalization. He had done no offense, had caused no damage, and was just outdoors with a buddy. Dukes' colleague, Officer Aqkwele Polidore, is a decent policeman who acted quickly to prevent the officer from assaulting the innocent guy further. She then informed their superiors about him.

“She did not fabricate. She was telling the truth. She is an excellent cop. “Not all cops are terrible; some are very good,” Gailyard said.

The fact that Dukes was promptly dismissed and jailed after his supervisors saw the body camera video demonstrates the gravity of the assault on Gailyard. Dukes was arrested on Monday and charged with assault and violence in the first degree. Gailyard has now retained attorney Justin Bamberg, who was instrumental in the department publicly disclosing the body camera video. According to Bamberg, this assault is part of a troubling pattern in Orangeburg, where police officers often use excessive force.

“There is no reason not to disclose the footage so that this community can see everything for themselves and determine if what is happening not only on that day but inside that agency, is acceptable for that community,” Bamberg said. “As a result, we're seeking immediate access to that footage.” Dukes was dismissed from the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office in October for insubordination, according to personnel documents acquired by The Times and Democrat of Orangeburg. Despite his dismissal, he became a gypsy policeman and was recruited by Orangeburg, where he was permitted to attack an innocent handicapped guy.

“I'm looking for a change. That is just what I desire,” Gailyard said. “I don't want them to do it to another person the way they did to me. You are aware that things might have been worse. However, I'm relieved it didn't.”

“Every time I look in the mirror, I see my forehead scar, and it's not acceptable. I want the community to change for the better,” Gailyard said.