Brunswick Police Chief Addresses September Complaint On Arrest of 13-Year-Old, Commits to Policy Review

Brunswick Police Chief Kevin Jones has addressed public concerns following a viral September 7 arrest involving Officer Robert Bryce Sasser and 13-year-old Colt Gordon. The incident, which occurred outside Gordon’s home on Parkwood Drive, was captured on both body camera footage and a doorbell camera.

According to police reports and video evidence, Sasser stopped Colt and a 19-year-old who lives with him to issue a citation for riding a bicycle on the sidewalk, a traffic offense. During the interaction, the 19-year-old told Colt to go inside the house and argued with Officer Sasser. As Colt stepped off his bicycle, Sasser grabbed his arm and took him to the ground, as seen in both the body camera footage and doorbell video.

After Colt ran into the home’s garage, Sasser followed, placing the teenager in handcuffs and pointing a taser at him before escorting him to a patrol car. Colt was later released that evening but was charged with two traffic violations and obstruction of an officer. These charges were dismissed in the weeks following the incident.

The arrest prompted widespread criticism and led to a formal complaint filed on September 16. In response, the Brunswick Police Department launched an internal investigation, reviewing body camera footage and witness statements. Chief Jones stated that the investigation found Sasser’s actions to be in compliance with departmental policy and Georgia law.

However, public backlash and concerns over transparency have prompted the department to announce several reforms. These include a review of the officer’s actions during the incident and updates to policies requiring officers to clearly identify themselves during non-emergency encounters. The department also plans to strengthen its monitoring of body camera footage and use-of-force incidents.

The complaint and subsequent investigation have also highlighted communication gaps between the department and the complainants. Chief Jones admitted that the department should have been more proactive in ensuring the complainants understood the investigation process and findings. The department has since reached out to the complainants to reschedule meetings initially requested but not completed.

“All complaints are thoroughly investigated,” Chief Jones emphasized in a statement. “We remain committed to trust and transparency as a community-oriented agency.”

The City Manager, City Commission, and Mayor have been briefed on the incident and the resulting measures. Chief Jones reiterated the department’s commitment to continuous improvement and maintaining the highest standards of service to the community.