Corporal Amanda Donald, a Richmond County Sheriff’s Office deputy, has resigned after being demoted in the wake of a February use-of-force investigation. Records show she was moved off road patrol and reassigned to jail duty but was allowed to keep her badge, a personnel shuffle that has intensified public scrutiny of how the sheriff’s office handles force complaints. Newly obtained records and previously unreleased video highlighted in recent reporting have pulled earlier incidents involving deputies back into the spotlight.
Inside the February Use-of-Force Review
According to internal investigative documents, the Feb. 9 incident started when Donald opened the rear door of a patrol car in an attempt to stop a suspect from kicking out a window. The report states the suspect kicked her hand, causing her flashlight to hit her chin. Investigators wrote that Donald then struck the suspect in the face several times until other deputies stepped in.
The internal review concluded that even if Donald’s initial use of force was justified, the continued blows became unnecessary under department policy. The related criminal case is still open, and body-worn camera footage from the encounter has not been released, according to reporting from WRDW.
Earlier Bodycam Footage and a Federal Court Record
Separate body-worn camera footage from a 2021 call, obtained by reporters, shows Donald striking a handcuffed man. That episode led to a letter of reprimand, an online training requirement and a written report at the time.
Federal court filings examining the sheriff’s office disciplinary history point to that 2021 incident, along with other alleged use-of-force cases, as examples of what plaintiffs say is inconsistent discipline inside the agency. Those allegations and internal references are detailed in records filed with the court, available through Justia.
Where Last Year’s Shooting Fits In
Donald was also part of an October 2025 Washington Road shooting in which deputies and a suspect exchanged gunfire. Authorities later cleared her in that officer-involved shooting. A fellow deputy was injured, and the incident drew an independent regional force-team review, underscoring both the dangers deputies face on patrol and the separate discipline questions raised by other use-of-force cases.
Local TV outlets covered the Washington Road shooting and the subsequent review, according to WIS News 10.
Sheriff Brantley on Discipline and Who Decides
Sheriff Eugene Brantley told investigators he did not recommend or sign off on Donald’s demotion, saying her immediate supervisors handled the decision. “When I look at something, I don’t know whether this is the first time something has happened or the third time,” Brantley said, explaining that frontline supervisors are better positioned to recommend discipline.
Speaking to reporters, Brantley also said, “You should never hit someone in handcuffs,” and urged the public to be patient while internal and external reviews run their course, according to WRDW.
What Happens Next
The ongoing criminal investigation into the February encounter will determine whether prosecutors bring charges. Separate civil and administrative claims already in federal court have amplified community concern about how force complaints are investigated and resolved.
Attorneys and open-records advocates say document retention rules and redaction requirements often make it hard to obtain full bodycam footage and related files, which in turn complicates public oversight and courtroom challenges. For background on the lawsuits and filings that have raised these issues, local coverage from WIS News 10 has tracked the related incidents and official responses.
