PBSO deputy gets bond, charged with threatening men with a gun
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — A deputy with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office appeared in court Friday morning where a judge set his bond at $40,000, $10,000 for each felony count he fces.
West Palm Beach Police arrested Jerald S. Alderman on Thursday on three counts of aggravated assault and using a firearm while under the influence following a confrontation with three young black men over the weekend.
In a video sent to CBS12 News a man who appears to be Alderman is seen yelling profanities at a group of men in a car in downtown West Palm Beach, ordering them to leave the parking lot. The video also shows him tapping his gun against the window and flashing his badge before walking off.
"It's sort of a slight relief, [but] I'm still stressing with a lot of this stuff," said LeKraig Bens, the driver of the car.
Bens and two friends, who also say they were in the car's passenger and back seat, allege that Alderman pointed his gun at them before the cell phone video was rolling.
"He put his gun to my face and said I would shoot all three of you," Bens said.
Alderman was off-duty at the time.
Video from another witness shows West Palm Beach police arriving at the parking lot and questioning Alderman.
The three men claim Alderman approached their parked car Saturday morning, alleging that they hit his Porsche and were trying to break into other cars in the parking lot. Alderman is the only person charged in connection with the incident. Police are in possession of security camera footage from the lot.
"Police actually investigated into if we actually had done anything out there...and there was nothing," Bens said.
Alderman must stay away from weapons and undergo random testing for drugs and alcohol as part of his conditions for bond.
