Man Wearing KKK Costume Charged for Beating Entertainer on Halloween

A man dressed in a Ku Klux Klan costume during a Halloween party in Wilton Manors has been charged for attacking an entertainer outside a restaurant, police said.

The Broward County State Attorney’s office charged Boyd Corbin, 44, with assault with a deadly weapon and battery, both third degree felonies.

Michael Walters, a Dame Edna impersonator, claimed Corbin attacked him with a burning torch during a Halloween costume contest last October at Alibi, a gay bar and restaurant.

Boyd Corbin in his controversial Ku Klux Klan costume. (Photo: Stephen R. Lang, Jump On Mark’s List)

“I was onstage and it happened so fast. He was behind me and I kept seeing out of my peripheral vision a burning torch,” Walters told SFGN in a previous interview.

Corbin was photographed that night (Oct. 31) by several people carrying a wooden cross and a lit garden torch — and dressed as a Klansmen.

Walters added: “I turned around and said ‘put that thing out’ and he just kept waving it around, he even thrust it at me a couple of times. Had he come any closer I would have gone up like Michael Jackson,” Walters said regarding the chemicals in his wig.

“I grabbed it and tried to blow it out but [the torch] didn’t go out – that’s when [Corbin] reached up and pulled my wig off, at the same time grabbing my arm and pulling me off the stage. I landed with all of my weight on my right leg and I felt something pop really bad.”

Walters said Corbin then leaned over him and Walters kicked at him.

“I was going to kill him,” Walters said.

For his part, Corbin maintains he was attacked first. He has retained attorney Thomas Morse to defend him, dropping his previous lawyer, Jeff Dean. Morse told SFGN he has filed a motion to dismiss the case based on the fact that this case is “completely ridiculous”.

“To say he (Walters) was struck without notice is ridiculous,” Morse said. “It’ll most likely get thrown out.”

Morse also contends that the state has no witnesses and is actively seeking them.

“They (the State) has decided my client is their guy and they’re sticking with him even without witnesses to the event,” Morse said.

Walters is pleased that charges have been filed, but wants things to just hurry up and end.

“This is an unfortunate sit for everyone involved,” Walters said, “I have faith in the system and that the right thing will be done.”

Man Wearing KKK Costume Charged for Beating Drag Queen on Halloween

A man dressed in a Ku Klux Klan costume during a Halloween party in Wilton Manors has been charged for attacking a drag queen outside a restaurant, police said.

The Broward County State Attorney’s office charged Boyd Corbin, 44, with assault with a deadly weapon and battery, both third degree felonies.

Michael Walters, a Dame Edna impersonator, claimed Corbin attacked him with a burning torch during a Halloween costume contest last October at Alibi, a gay bar and restaurant.

Boyd Corbin in his controversial Ku Klux Klan costume. (Photo: Stephen R. Lang, Jump On Mark’s List)

“I was onstage and it happened so fast. He was behind me and I kept seeing out of my peripheral vision a burning torch,” Walters told SFGN in a previous interview.

Corbin was photographed that night (Oct. 31) by several people carrying a wooden cross and a lit garden torch — and dressed as a Klansmen.

Walters added: “I turned around and said ‘put that thing out’ and he just kept waving it around, he even thrust it at me a couple of times. Had he come any closer I would have gone up like Michael Jackson,” Walters said regarding the chemicals in his wig.

“I grabbed it and tried to blow it out but [the torch] didn’t go out – that’s when [Corbin] reached up and pulled my wig off, at the same time grabbing my arm and pulling me off the stage. I landed with all of my weight on my right leg and I felt something pop really bad.”

Walters said Corbin then leaned over him and Walters kicked at him.

“I was going to kill him,” Walters said.

For his part, Corbin maintains he was attacked first. He has retained attorney Thomas Morse to defend him, dropping his previous lawyer, Jeff Dean. Morse told SFGN he has filed a motion to dismiss the case based on the fact that this case is “completely ridiculous”.

“To say he (Walters) was struck without notice is ridiculous,” Morse said. “It’ll most likely get thrown out.”

Morse also contends that the state has no witnesses and is actively seeking them.

“They (the State) has decided my client is their guy and they’re sticking with him even without witnesses to the event,” Morse said.

Walters is pleased that charges have been filed, but wants things to just hurry up and end.

“This is an unfortunate sit for everyone involved,” Walters said, “I have faith in the system and that the right thing will be done.”

Ga. sheriff says political foes behind old photos showing him in Klan costume …

CANTON, Ga. — A Georgia sheriff seeking re-election said political foes are trying to smear him by circulating old photographs that show him dressed in Ku Klux Klan robes at a Halloween Party.

“I don’t think anyone who knows me is going to think anything of this,” said Cherokee County Sheriff Roger Garrison. “But it’s just sickening and it hurts my family.”

WSB-TV reported it obtained the photos, taken during the 1980s long before Garrison took office, weeks before the sheriff faces opposition to his re-election in Georgia’s July 31 primary.

Garrison admitted he wore a Klan robe and hood to a costume party, but insisted he has no affiliation with the group. He said he and a friend who also wore a KKK outfit were dressed as characters from the movie “Blazing Saddles.”

“I don’t deny it wasn’t stupid, looking back now,” Garrison said. “But there again I say what 21- or 22-year-old in this world hasn’t made some stupid mistakes?”

Still, the sheriff said whoever is circulating the photos is doing so for “purely political” reasons in an effort to derail his re-election.

David Waters, the sheriff’s primary opponent, said somebody showed him the photos a year but chose to ignore them.

Waters said he’s not the one circulating the photos, though he said they depict something about the sheriff’s character.

“It is a bad judgment call, and (that) type of clothing represents hate,” Waters said. “And I certainly don’t want any part of that.”

The Atlanta television station did not reveal who provided it with the photos of Garrison.

The sheriff said he hopes voters will more pay attention to his 20 years in office.

“I would just ask that they look at my honor and my integrity and the things we’ve done for this sheriff’s office,” he said.

___

Information from WSB-TV, http://www.wsbtv.com

News Nearby: Sheriff Apologizes for KKK Costume, Man Escapes Fire

Sheriff Apologizes for KKK Costume – Canton-Sixes Patch

“Those pictures do not represent the Roger Garrison of today or of that time,” Cherokee Sheriff Roger Garrison said. “It was a stupid mistake made by a 21-year-old.”

Four days after WSB-TV showed a nearly 30-year-old photograph of Cherokee Sheriff Roger Garrison at a Halloween costume party in a Ku Klux Klan hood and robe, the county’s top law enforcement official sat down with Canton-Sixes Patch this morning [Wednesday, June 27] to tell his side of the story.

Man Escapes Morning Fire - Woodstock Patch

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

A 25-year-old man escaped through a window when his Victoria Landing Drive home caught fire.

Neighbors said they heard an explosion around 1 a.m. Ryan Burt, neighbor who lived across the street said the man was trying to escape through a window above the garage. Burt then got his ladder to help the resident down, according to a Cherokee Fire and Emergency Services press release.

Obama Orders Up Surprise Smiles at The Varsity – Midtown Patch

The president visited the famed Midtown eatery during his campaign fundraising trip to Atlanta on Tuesday.

The president journeyed to Atlanta today [Tuesday, June 26] to stump for votes and collect campaigning cash. But before he did so, he made a surprise lunchtime visit to the famed restaurant, where he greeted startled customers and shook their hands.

Marietta Ghosts to Be Featured on ‘Haunted Towns of America’ – Marietta Patch

With an estimated 700 ghosts in and around Marietta Square, it is not surprising that Marietta will be featured on the upcoming television series “Haunted Towns of America.”

In recent months, Marietta artists and business owners have moved into the spotlight and gained national attention on shows such as Design Wars, Cupcake Wars, The Voice, Fashion Star and Chopped All-Stars. Now Marietta’s ghosts are finding their way onto television.

Old photos show Ga. sheriff in KKK party costume

June 23, 2012

Old photos show Ga. sheriff in KKK party costume

Anonymous


Dalton Daily Citizen
The Dalton Daily Citizen

Sat Jun 23, 2012, 01:45 PM EDT

CANTON, Ga. (AP) — A Georgia sheriff seeking re-election said political foes are trying to smear him by circulating old photographs that show him dressed in Ku Klux Klan robes at a Halloween Party.

“I don’t think anyone who knows me is going to think anything of this,” said Cherokee County Sheriff Roger Garrison. “But it’s just sickening and it hurts my family.”

WSB-TV reported it obtained the photos, taken during the 1980s long before Garrison took office, weeks before the sheriff faces opposition to his re-election in Georgia’s July 31 primary.

Garrison admitted he wore a Klan robe and hood to a costume party, but insisted he has no affiliation with the group. He said he and a friend who also wore a KKK outfit were dressed as characters from the movie “Blazing Saddles.”

“I don’t deny it wasn’t stupid, looking back now,” Garrison said. “But there again I say what 21- or 22-year-old in this world hasn’t made some stupid mistakes?”

Still, the sheriff said whoever is circulating the photos is doing so for “purely political” reasons in an effort to derail his re-election.

David Waters, the sheriff’s primary opponent, said somebody showed him the photos a year but chose to ignore them.

Waters said he’s not the one circulating the photos, though he said they depict something about the sheriff’s character.

“It is a bad judgment call, and (that) type of clothing represents hate,” Waters said. “And I certainly don’t want any part of that.”

The Atlanta television station did not reveal who provided it with the photos of Garrison.

The sheriff said he hopes voters will more pay attention to his 20 years in office.

“I would just ask that they look at my honor and my integrity and the things we’ve done for this sheriff’s office,” he said.

Text Only

Sheriff says KKK costume a stupid mistake

Cherokee County Sheriff Roger Garrison said he has no affiliation with the Ku Klux Klan, despite old photos that surfaced showing him wearing a robe and hood.

He wore the costume to a Halloween party around 25 years ago, long before he took office.

“I don’t deny it wasn’t stupid, looking back now, but there again I say what 21- or 22-year-old in this world hasn’t made some stupid mistakes?” Garrison told Channel 2 investigative reporter Jodie Fleischer, who obtained the photos from a source who wished to remain anonymous.

Garrison is up for re-election this year, and is facing primary opposition next month.

“It’s purely political,” he said, “This is just the lowest of the low to infer whatever they’re attempting to infer there.”

Garrison said he and a friend were dressed as characters from a scene in the movie “Blazing Saddles” and that he has never espoused any of the KKK’s beliefs.

“I don’t think anyone who knows me is going to think anything of this, but it’s just sickening and it hurts my family,” said Garrison.

Garrison’s opponent, David Waters, said someone showed him the photos a year ago, but he chose to ignore them and focus on his own campaign.

“It is a bad judgment call, and (that) type of clothing represents hate, and I certainly don’t want any part of that,” said Waters.

Waters was not the source who provided the photos to Channel 2 Action News.

By phone, Fleischer reached one person who attended the party back in the 1980s, and said many of the guests were surprised to see Garrison dressed in that costume.

“I think the suit represents harm regardless of how it’s displayed. It’s a statement that the suit makes and to call that a joke, I don’t think a lot of people would laugh,” said Waters.

Garrison told Fleischer he’s hoping voters will pay more attention to his record as sheriff during the last two decades than a photo that’s even older than that.

“Everybody knows everything about my life. I would just ask that they look at my honor and my integrity and the things we’ve done for this sheriff’s office,” said Garrison.

Sheriff’s KKK Costume Photo Goes Viral

Google “Cherokee Sheriff Roger Garrison” and the top hits will mention the three letter acronym associated with a white supremacist group: KKK.

Since Friday, when WSB-TV showed nearly 30-year-old photographs of Garrison at a Halloween costume party in a Ku Klux Klan hood and robe, the story has gone viral.

MSN, Huffington Post, the New York Daily News—even the Daily Mail in Britain—have picked up the story.

Will old photos of Cherokee Sheriff Roger Garrison at a Halloween costume party be a factor when you go to the polls on July 31? Tell us in the comment box below.

Attempts to reach Garrison have not been successful. He told WSB-TV and other news outlets that his decision to wear the costume was, in hindsight, stupid.

He was 21 years old at the time. He and his friend decided to dress up as characters from Blazing Saddles, a film from the 1970s, he said. 

Garrison questioned the timing of the leaked photos. He is in a heated re-election bid against David Waters, a commander with the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office. Their primary race will be settled on July 31.

“It’s just the lowest of the low to try to imply something of that nature from a costume makeup party (that happened) 30 years ago,” Garrison told the Cherokee Tribune on Saturday. “(Waters) has much greater character issues he needs to explain with his five marriages and lack of commitment.”

Related content:

• Sheriff Garrison Seeks 6th Term.
• Police Group Backs David Waters.
• Sheriff Signs Vandalized With Bow and Arrows.

Sheriff resigns after wearing KKK uniform as Halloween costume

A sheriff in Georgia now regrets the Halloween costume he wore more than 20 years ago. Old photos have surfaced of Cherokee County’s sheriff wearing the white robe of the KKK.

Sheriff Roger Garrison says what was supposed to be a funny costume at a Halloween party back in the  1980’s doesn’t seem so funny now.

“I don’t think anyone who knows me is going to think anything of this, but it’s just sickening. It’s sickening, and it hurts my family,” said Garrison.

Garrison says he and a friend donned the Ku Klux Klan robes and hoods to copy a scene from the movie, “Blazing Saddles.”

He said he’s never espoused any of the KKK’s beliefs.

His opponent, David Waters, says someone showed him the photos a year ago, but he chose to ignore them and focus on his own campaign.

“It is a bad judgment call, and those type clothing represents hate, and I certainly don’t want any part of that,” said Waters.

Garrison says neither does he.

“I would just ask that they look at my honor and my integrity and the things we’ve done for this sheriff’s office,” he said. “I don’t deny it wasn’t stupid, looking back now, but there again, I say what 21- or 22-year-old in this world hasn’t made some stupid mistakes.”

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Sheriff apologizes for KKK costume

Cherokee County, GA (WSB) – A sheriff in Georgia now regrets the Halloween costume he wore more than 20 years ago.

Old photos have surfaced of Cherokee County’s sheriff wearing the white robe of the KKK.

“This is just the lowest of the low to infer whatever they’re attempting to infer there,” says Sheriff Roger Garrison.

He says what was supposed to be a funny costume at a Halloween party back in the 1980′s doesn’t seem so funny now.

“I don’t think anyone who knows me is going to think anything of this, but it’s just sickening. It’s sickening, and it hurts my family,” Sheriff Garrison explains.

He says he and a friend donned the Ku Klux Klan robes and hoods to copy a scene from the movie, “Blazing Saddles” and that he’s never espoused any of the KKK’s beliefs.

Candidate for Sheriff David Waters says, “It’s a statement that the suit makes, and to call that a joke, I don’t think a lot of people would laugh.”

His opponent, David Waters says someone showed him the photos a year ago, but he chose to ignore them and focus on his own campaign.

“It is a bad judgment call, and those type clothing represents hate, and I certainly don’t want any part of that,” Waters explains.

The sheriff says neither does he.

“I would just ask that they look at my honor and my integrity and the things we’ve done for this sheriff’s office,” Sheriff Garrison says.

He also says, “I don’t deny it wasn’t stupid, looking back now, but there again, I say what 21 or 22 year old in this world hasn’t made some stupid mistakes.”

30-year-old photos of sheriff in KKK costume surface

CANTON — Photographs of Cherokee County Sheriff Roger Garrison in a Ku Klux Klan costume taken at a Halloween party 30 years ago surfaced Friday on a metro television newscast.

Garrison said Friday he regrets the decision he made when he was 21 years old and that the photos were of a costume that was intended to be a spoof on a character from the movie “Blazing Saddles,” a popular motion picture at the time.

“This is by no means a reflection upon my career… or personal beliefs,” Garrison said. “It was a simple, childish Halloween costume party — nothing more, nothing less.”

He said the move feels like a political attack from his opposition, David Waters, a commander with the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office.

“It appears Mr. Waters has sent those photos to the Atlanta media and asked for stories,” Garrison said. “I’m deeply appalled he would stoop to this level (and) that he chooses not to stick to the issues.”

Garrison said he found it especially appalling Waters was trying to make a moral judgment when his challenger has been married five times.

“(He) is not one to be throwing stones at other people,” Garrison said. “It’s clearly an act of desperation on his part and I believe that the voters will respond accordingly. They’re sick of that type of campaigning.”

Garrison said Cherokee County voters know the honor and integrity he has continued to display throughout his 20 years as sheriff.

“It’s just the lowest of the low to try to imply something of that nature from a costume makeup party (that happened) 30 years ago. (Waters) has much greater character issues he needs to explain with his five marriages and lack of commitment,” Garrison said.

In the end, Garrison said he can’t help but take it personally, calling it a “clear, shining example” of Waters’ character.

“I’m thick-skinned, but stuff like this hurts my wife and my son and my parents, that’s what bothers me about it,” Garrison said. “To have family see those things that he puts out and he is attempting to imply, that hurts them and that hurts me.”

Garrison said he did not know who published the photograph.

In the television news report, Waters denied providing the metro media outlet with a copy of the photograph though admitted to seeing the photo in June of last year.

Several attempts to reach Waters were not returned by press time.