Camden County Deputy Indicted for Excessive Force, Falsifying Records
CAMDEN COUNTY, GA – A federal grand jury has returned a 13-count indictment against current Staff Sergeant Buck Aldridge, a deputy with the Camden County Sheriff’s Office, charging him with deprivation of rights under color of law and falsifying records. Aldridge, who resides in St. Marys, has been relieved of his duties.
The former U.S. Marine is alleged to have used excessive force against arrestees on four separate occasions. The indictment further claims that he prepared multiple misleading reports for the Sheriff’s Office to justify his use of force.
Sheriff Kevin Chaney stated that the Sheriff’s Office is “committed to transparency and accountability at every level” and that its “duty is to serve the citizens of Camden County with integrity and professionalism.”
Details of Past Incidents
The indictment and public records detail a history of alleged excessive force incidents involving Aldridge:
- Fatal Shooting: On October 16, 2023, Aldridge fatally shot Leonard Cure, a Black man who had been wrongfully imprisoned and exonerated years prior, during a traffic stop. After a struggle that lasted about 20 seconds, Aldridge fired a fatal shot at Cure at close range. Aldridge was placed on administrative leave following the incident. On February 25, 2025, the district attorney announced that Aldridge would not face any criminal charges in Cure’s killing.
- 2022 Incident: In 2022, Aldridge allegedly dragged a driver from a car that crashed on Interstate 95 after the driver fled from him.
- Previous Firing: Personnel records show that Aldridge was fired by the Camden County Sheriff’s Office for throwing a woman to the ground and handcuffing her during a traffic stop. He was re-hired by the Camden County Sheriff’s Office just nine months later, in May 2018.
