UPDATE: Garland Trice, 76, has been released from both the hospital and the Jefferson County Jail following his arrest at a Quorum Court meeting on Monday night.
According to the Jefferson County jail log, Trice was booked at 8:25 p.m. on Wednesday and released just over an hour later at 9:31 p.m. He is facing charges of disorderly conduct — for fighting or engaging in violent, threatening, or tumultuous behavior — and resisting arrest by refusing to submit and allegedly threatening force.
Trice was hospitalized for nearly 48 hours after suffering what officials described as a “cardiac event” during his arrest. The incident occurred after a heated exchange between Trice and Justices Alfred Carroll and Reginald Johnson during the public comment portion of the Quorum Court meeting. Trice reportedly refused to yield the floor after his allotted three minutes had ended.
As deputies attempted to remove him from the meeting and place him in the back of a patrol vehicle, one deputy deployed a Taser to subdue Trice, leading to his hospitalization.
ORIGINAL STORY:
A public meeting in Jefferson County spiraled into controversy Monday night after the arrest of community activist Garland Trice during a heated exchange at the Quorum Court. The incident, which ended in the deployment of a taser by a sheriff’s deputy and led to Trice being hospitalized, has triggered a war of words between Jefferson County Sheriff Lafayette Woods, Jr. and County Judge Gerald Robinson.
Trice, a well-known activist in the community, was participating in the public comment section of the June 9 Quorum Court meeting when tensions escalated. According to official accounts, Trice exceeded his allotted speaking time and refused repeated directives to return to his seat. His continued confrontation with Justices Alfred Carroll and Reginald Johnson led to deputies with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office physically removing him from the courtroom.
The situation intensified outside the meeting chambers, culminating in a deputy deploying a taser on Trice. He was later transported to Jefferson Regional Medical Center after what sources have described as a “cardiac event.” He is expected to face charges including disorderly conduct and resisting arrest upon release.
Sheriff Lafayette Woods, Jr. issued a detailed statement on Tuesday, defending his department’s actions and placing the blame squarely on Trice for the outcome.
“Despite multiple warnings to comply with the presiding officer’s directive and return to his seat, Mr. Trice became more boisterous… His passive resistance necessitated the use of less-lethal force, including taser deployment, to ensure compliance and restore order,” Woods stated.
He went on to accuse Trice of engaging in deliberately provocative behavior to “advance personal political grievances,” and reaffirmed the Sheriff’s Office’s commitment to maintaining public safety and order during official proceedings.
However, the Sheriff’s account was quickly contradicted by Jefferson County Judge Gerald Robinson, who strongly criticized both the arrest and the Sheriff’s involvement.
In a scathing statement, Judge Robinson noted that eight justices had walked out in protest during the meeting, leaving the court without a quorum and halting official business. After regrouping later that evening for a special session, Trice was arrested during another round of public comments.
“From all indications, in my opinion, it was a violation of his constitutional rights,” Robinson said. “Viewing the video footage from a number of social media sources, I fail to see the probable cause for an arrest and the excessive force displayed.”
Robinson also questioned why Sheriff Woods had intervened at all, citing past occasions where the Sheriff had refused to act when requested to remove disruptive individuals from court sessions.
“He has clearly demonstrated that he is not an officer of the Quorum Court and his involvement was unwarranted,” Robinson concluded.
The incident has sparked concern across the community, with many questioning the appropriateness of the force used and the broader implications for free speech and public participation in government meetings. Civil rights organizations have reportedly begun looking into the case, and legal experts screened by Deltaplex News anticipate possible litigation..
As of now, Trice remains in medical care and is expected to be booked into the Jefferson County Jail upon release from the hospital.
FULL STATEMENT FROM SHERIFF LAFAYETTE WOODS, JR.
“On June 9, 2025, during a regularly scheduled Jefferson County Quorum Court meeting at the Jefferson County Circuit Courthouse, Garland Trice, Sr. disrupted proceedings by refusing to yield the floor after his allotted public comment time had expired. Despite multiple warnings to comply with the presiding officer’s directive and return to his seat, Mr. Trice became more boisterous, while continuing his refusal, ultimately requiring deputies to physically remove him from the meeting room. His passive resistance necessitated the use of less-lethal force, including taser deployment, to ensure compliance and restore order. This incident was entirely preventable had Mr. Trice adhered to the established rules of conduct. His repeated disruptive behavior at public forums appears intended to provoke reactions and advance personal political grievances.
While parliamentary procedures govern meeting decorum, the authority of the presiding officer and law enforcement extends beyond these rules to maintain public order and safety. Disruptions by members of the public that impede official business or threaten security cannot and will not be tolerated. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to safeguarding the constitutional rights of peaceful assembly and free speech, while ensuring the safety and integrity of public meetings.”
FULL STATEMENT FROM JEFFERSON COUNTY JUDGE GERALD ROBINSON.
“Concerning the incident which occurred after the regularly scheduled June 9th, 2025 Quorum Court meeting, where eight justices—Reginald Johnson, Melanie Dumas, Reginald Adams, Margarette Williams, Alfred Carrol, Cedric Jackson, Richard Victorino, Brenda Bishop Gaddy—all walked out in protest, leaving the regular scheduled meeting without enough members to have a quorum to continue county business. Upon the adjournment of the meeting and approximately twenty minutes later, the eight reconvened and started another special meeting.
Mr. Garland Trice was arrested during a public comment section. From all indications, in my opinion, it was a violation of his constitutional rights. Viewing the video footage from a number of social media sources, I fail to see the probable cause for an arrest and the excessive force displayed by the Sheriff and deputies of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department.
I’m also puzzled as to why the Sheriff even got involved, because he has verbally stated in the public and through social media sources that he is not the Sergeant-at-Arms for the Quorum Court. He has also shown that he would not perform these duties in open court when asked by this Judge to escort people from the meeting when they were being unruly, one being former Justice Lloyd Franklin Jr. and best friend of the Sheriff.
In my opinion, he (the Sheriff) has clearly demonstrated that he is not an officer of the Quorum Court and his involvement was unwarranted!”
