First Amendment Auditor Arrested

From Staff Reports
A LaGrange man was arrested after an incident that occurred at Central Elementary-High School in Talbotton on May 8.
Russell Clarence Pickron, a first amendment auditor, was arrested and charged with disrupting public schools (disorderly conduct), according to a report filed at the Talbot County Sheriff’s Office.
In the police report, Investigator Curt Ousley. who responded to a call from the Talbot County School System wrote, “Once on campus I went to the business office. I was aware also that school was in session and minor children were in class on this facility.”
Ousley stated in the report that Pickron stated he was “investigating corruption and doing a documentary.” Ousley stated he did not see a press badge or visitor’s pass affixed to Pickron.
Ousley also wrote, “I was aware that he was a first amendment auditor and is was probably live streaming on youtube or the internet in some fashion. I elected to protect his first amendment rights and allow him to keep filming and orating his documentary.”
According to the police report, Ousley met with Joy Andrews, Jannie Graham and Terrance Freeman. “All of them were given department statement forms to write down their account of the incident. While speaking with them they were employees and they all had rightful positions of employment in that office. Their work was distracted and disrupted and they were irritated by his behavior. One employee, Jannie Graham, stated she felt in danger and retreated with another coworker to a back hallway away from Mr. Pickron with him standing there filming and asking numerous questions. They stated he requested an open records act and they gave him the paper forms to fill out and return. But he continued to stand around and ask questions and film which became disruptive and distracted them from the focus of their tasks and also the attention they needed to direct to minor students who were in the same facility. These employees are also granted a tranquility of peace under the Constitution and his presence with nor more reason and conduct was now breeching that peace. I had now determined that Mr. Pickron had committed a crime. I exited the building and told Mr. Pickron he was under arrest for disorderly conduct.”
According to Superintendent Dr. Jack Catrett, the school system started receiving harassing phone calls after the incident and a supplemental report at the Sherrif’s Office written by Investigator Johnny Middlebrooks states, “On Friday, May 13, 2025 at 12:30, I Investigator Middlebrooks, was notified of Harassing Communication at 945 North Washington Avenue (Central Talbot Board of Education). The case is currently active.”