A local man and his teenage son were arrested Wednesday afternoon by Columbia County deputies after protesting the “illegal” search of a home.
Gregory Parrish, 40, and his son, Carson Parrish, 18, were charged with criminal trespassing for refusing to leave the Circle K convenience store on Appling-Harlem Road in Appling, authorities said.
The suspects were with Gregory Parrish’s wife and eight juveniles in a RV on the gas station’s property, according to a sheriff’s report. Witness photos show them holding signs that accused the “Columbia County P.D.” of searching a home illegally.
“No Justice. No Peace. Why Us Police” read a sign held by Carson Parrish.
Another sign held by Allison Parrish said, “Columbia County P.D. Searched Illegally.”
A sheriff’s report says deputies found the group standing on Circle K property with signs holding a protest. They were asked to leave the property by Circle K management. They left the Circle K and went next door to the Dollar General.
But the manager at the Dollar General wanted them trespassed from the property. Alison, Gregory, and Carson Parrish were given verbal trespass orders from both locations.
“Gregory and Carson decided to grab their signs and continue to protest on Circle K property,” a report says. “They were given a final chance to leave and they refused.”
So deputies took Gregory Parrish and Carson Parrish into custody and booked them into the jail for criminal trespass. Allison and the other juveniles got in their RV and left the property, the report says.
Sheriff’s Maj. Steve Morris said protesters must gain permission for a protest, and they failed to do so. He said he was unaware what “illegal search” they were protesting.
Maj. Morris said both suspects had addresses in Augusta.
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