Residents use public comment to raise allegations against sheriff’s deputies, question pepper‑spray policy and urge action on litter and schools

Several residents used the public comment period at the Harnett County Board of Commissioners meeting to relay personal allegations about law enforcement conduct, criticize a proposed county pepper‑spray policy, and urge the board to act on litter and school facility concerns.

Resident Alan Long described an encounter involving his wife and local law enforcement and said officers “threw her with all their might onto the ground” and that she “was a bloody mess when she got up.” Long said he believed his wife had been abused and expressed frustration at the sheriff’s office response and internal accountability. He called for change in how the sheriff’s office operates and suggested voters consider replacing the elected sheriff with a police chief model.

Jerry Rivas commented on a consent‑agenda item: a proposed county pepper‑spray policy that would allow “eligible non‑law‑enforcement employees” to possess county‑issued spray while working. Rivas criticized the proposal on safety and liability grounds and said he feared inappropriate use; he also raised concerns about a possible conflict of interest involving a commissioner who also had ties to the school system. Rivas told the board the pepper‑spray policy was “hilarious” and recounted scenarios he feared could produce misuse.

Other public commenters urged action on litter and road safety. Larry Mitchell, a volunteer with Keep Harnett Beautiful, described heavy littering on Shady Grove Road and said cleanup needed more county or community support. Jay Sills and another resident raised safety concerns about county or sheriff’s office vehicles allegedly traveling at high speed without emergency lights; Sills said vehicles sometimes travel “so fast” that other drivers have no reaction time.

Several speakers also raised education issues. Richard Chapman praised recent town hall events and urged stronger county advocacy in Raleigh for the ability to require impact fees from developers; he said counties are prevented from charging impact fees by state law and urged commissioners to press state representatives. Multiple commenters pressed the board to prioritize facility upgrades and long‑term capital planning for schools.

These comments were part of the meeting’s public comment period; none of the public requests reported in the transcript translated into immediate formal actions by the board during the session recorded in the transcript.