North Charleston Councilman Defies Noise Complaint at His Restaurant

North Charleston Councilman Defies Noise Complaint at His Restaurant

Bodycam footage newly released to the public has outlined an incident in which Jerome Heyward, a city councilman for North Charleston, refused to comply with a noise complaint targeted at his restaurant, The Montague Room.

Details of the Incident

The episode transpired on February 24, with a police officer responding to a noise complaint at The Montague Room on Dorchester Road at approximately 11:50 p.m. Councilman Heyward, who also serves as the establishment’s vice president, was present during the time of the incident.

Captured on Bodycam

The bodycam recording, released by the North Charleston Police Department (NCPD) on April 4, shows the concerned officer interacting with the restaurant’s DJ, instructing him to turn off the loud music. Instead of complying fully, the DJ merely reduced the volume slightly.

The cop then approached Heyward, educating him about the city law requiring the noise to be silenced. The councilman claimed he would take care of the matter.

According to the incident report, the officer subsequently stepped about 30 yards away from the restaurant to allow Heyward to address the issue. However, when the officer returned, it was clear that the music had not been silenced.

A Disregard for Law and Order?

In the pursuit of rectifying the situation, the councilman dialed Deputy Police Chief Karen Cordray, handing his phone to the officer to explain the circumstances. The bodycam footage is cut short after the officer finishes communicating with Cordray.

The Incident Escalates

After returning the phone to Heyward, a woman identifying herself as an attorney approached the officer. She attested that Heyward had been frequently reported for noise violation, contrasting with another nearby business, also known for playing music, but had not received similar complaints.

Prominently, during this conversation, Heyward addressed the officer as “boy”. This was met with the officer’s withdrawal from the premises and subsequent contact with Cordray.

Incident Report Reveals Depth of Issue

According to the incident report issued in the aftermath, the officer described Councilman Heyward as being under the influence of alcoholic beverages. Furthermore, this was reportedly the second occasion that an intoxicated Heyward belittled law enforcement officers.

The officer and Deputy Police Chief Cordray debated issuing a citation but eventually determined it best to avoid further dealing with Heyward.

A Transparent Police Department?

The North Charleston Police Department maintained that the responsible officer followed all required protocols and procedures during the encounter.