An Alabama fire chief is facing multiple charges after pulling a gun on a Black real estate agent and the photographer who showed up at his for-sale home.
The incident took place in Roswell, Georgia, in mid-March. Regina Lee scheduled a showing at a home belonging to Jason Edward Rickels. She brought along Dwayne Clifford Boddie to take photos of the home. According to the Atlanta Black Star, the 43-year-old fire chief in Tarrant County arrived with a gun and threatened Lee and Boddie, even smashing Boddie’s camera on the ground. At some point, he pulled a 9mm gun on the duo.
According to AL.com, Rickels arrived at the home in an SUV and blocked in Boddie’s vehicle. The fire chief then asked Boddie, “What are you doing?” The photographer told the angry man that he was there to shoot footage of the home and showed Rickel his camera as proof. That is when Rickels snatched the camera and destroyed it before yelling, “not here; you’re not.” He also reportedly threatened to shoot Boddie if he moved.
Part of the heated exchange was captured on cell phone video. Boddie is heard cursing at Rickels, who claims to have broken the camera after thinking it was a weapon.
Rickels was arrested and has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and second-degree criminal damage to property.
Tarrant Mayor Wayman Newton says that the city is “aware of the current situation surrounding Fire Chief Jason Rickels” and is looking into whether Rickels violated city policy.
