THOMASVILLE — An attorney representing a Thomas County man arrested by Thomasville police in late February has informed Thomasville City Council and two police officers his client plans to sue for million of dollars in damages.

Keith Thomas was wrongfully arrested on March 5 by Thomasville Police Department (TPD) and charged with simple battery and disorderly conduct, Moultrie attorney Clifford M. Kirbo states in a letter to Thomasville City Council, Police Chief Troy Rich and police Capt. Maurice Holmes.

“(Chief) Rich is believed to have insisted upon (Mr.) Thomas’ arrest arising out of an incident that occurred on Feb. 26, 2019, despite an earlier investigation clearing (Mr.) Thomas of any wrongdoing by the Thomas County Sheriff’s Department, because (Mr.) Thomas made public comments against (Chief) Rich at a Thomasville City Council meeting on Feb. 25, 2019. The warrants were obtained based on an affidavit from Holmes that was inaccurate, incomplete and not based upon on actual facts of the occurrence. In short, there was not probable cause to arrest (Mr.) Thomas,” the ante litem letter states.

When asked for comments, Rich and Holmes referred questions to the city manager’s office.

Said City Manager Alan Carson, “We refer any and all issues like this to our attorney.”

“I have no comment about threatened litigation,” City Attorney Tim Sanders said.  

Minutes after warrants were issued on Thomas, someone “leaked” Holmes’ incident report to a local Facebook site, the letter states, adding that “leaking” of the information appears to have been a calculated attempt to disgrace Thomas.

The letter is dated May 10. The city received the letter May 14. Charges against Thomas were nolle prosequi — not prosecuted and dismissed — in Thomas Count State Court on May 20, according to records in the Thomas County clerk of court office.

Kirbo wrote that the purpose of the letter was to put the City of Thomasville, TPD, Rich and Holmes on notice of potential claims by Thomas due to his “false arrest, illegal search and seizure false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, slander and intentional infliction of emotional distress.”

The letter states that identified parties violated Thomas’ constitutional rights.

Thomas has suffered damages to his reputation, his emotional well-being and general damages amounting to $5 million, the letter states.

The letter requests all emails between Rich and Holmes, correspondence between TPD and the sheriff’s office concerning Thomas, correspondence between any employee or representative of the city or any of its agencies or departments concerning Thomas or his pending charges in Thomas County State Court and personnel files for Rich and Holmes.

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820