This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
The Institute for Justice has announced a new lawsuit against Spartanburg County, South Carolina, and its sheriff's office, over a "policing for profit" scheme that the sheriff insists on keeping secret.
"Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright calls a news conference each year to announce the results of Operation Rolling Thunder," says Daryl James, a writer with the Institute for Justice who filed the initial public records request on October 11, 2022. "But he only provides information favorable to his agency."
The institute reported such lack of transparency lets the county "control the narrative surrounding Operation Rolling Thunder while hiding possible abuses of power."
"The sheriff spoon-feeds information to the public," charged Rob Johnson, a senior lawyer with the institute. "People have a right to know what is going on behind the press conference podium. If the government can pick and choose what facts to release, then anything abusive or unflattering will stay hidden."
The lawsuit is to force the county to release public records about the operation.
"During Operation Rolling Thunder, law enforcement agencies take to the highways in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, and stop as many vehicles as possible—often on the thinnest of pretexts—to seize and forfeit property," the IJ reported. "The lawsuit seeks information under the authority of South Carolina’s Freedom of Information Act, which requires government agencies to function openly."
For example, in 2022, the sheriff's officers and others "searched 144 vehicles" during their operation, and seized "nearly $1 million in cash."
At least one civil rights complaint was filed later, and it demanded details about all 144 searches.
The new case is on behalf of South Carolina resident Adrianne Turner. The IJ had submitted two information requests, and then Turner added a third, but Spartanburg County has rejected all three.
The IJ said, "One concern with Operation Rolling Thunder is the aggressive pursuit of money through civil forfeiture. This law enforcement maneuver allows the government to seize and keep property without a criminal conviction. Even an arrest is optional."
Since state law there allows law enforcement agencies to keep 95% of what they confiscate, the IJ said there is "a perverse incentive to search as many vehicles as possible."
"The result can be policing for profit," a lawyer warned.
