By Sherry Larson
People’s Defender
On June 8 there was a brief phone hearing regarding an injunction filed by deputies Shawn Cooley, Justin Cooley, Michael Estep, Shawn Grooms, Brian Newland, and Lisa Phillips of the Adams County Sheriff’s Department against Joseph Foreman (aka – Afroman) of Winchester, Ohio, Hungry Hustler Records, and Media Access Inc. The Honorable Judge McBride presided over the civil case phone call noting that Afroman’s attorneys had filed a request to dismiss. Judge McBride will wait for a response from the plaintiff’s attorneys and decide as to whether the case is dismissed or moves forward.
The officers sued Afroman and the record companies on March 13, 2023. The officers filed the suit asserting that Afroman had used and profited from merchandise he created from their likenesses obtained without their consent. The claim explained that security cameras in Afroman’s home captured video of the raid and Afroman’s wife also videoed during the raid.
A little back story – Adams County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant in August 2022 to search the home of Joseph Foreman. August 31, 2022, a WLWT.com article stated, “The Adams County Sheriff confirms the search warrant listed possession of drugs, trafficking drugs, and kidnapping.”
In September of 2022, Foreman announced his new album, “Lemon Pound Cake,” written about the raid on his home. According to songfacts.com, “They didn’t find any kidnapping victims or any evidence of drug trafficking, but they did find a lemon pound cake under a bell jar in the kitchen. Video from Afroman’s surveillance system shows one of the officers looking down at the tasty confection before continuing the search. Afroman, who was not charged, seized on this moment to create the song “Lemon Pound Cake,” where he speculates that the officer really wanted to put down his gun and cut him a slice.”
The Cincinnati Enquirer reported that “Lemon Pound Cake” and other music video footage by Afroman poked fun at the deputies. “As a result, the deputies say they’ve suffered embarrassment, ridicule, and death threats.”
In November 2022, a suspected $400 shortage from the monies was returned to Foreman from the raid. The People’s Defender reported, “After investigating, reviewing body cam footage, and conducting an audit on all the monies logged into the property room at the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Clermont Sheriff’s office reported, “it was proven that a miscount of the monies took place on the scene of the search warrant when the monies were initially packaged.” In a May 31 interview with Dan Carroll of 700 WLW Weekend, Foreman asked, “How can you get hired with the Sheriff’s Department if you count and you are $400 off?”
The story continued with an April 20, 2023 pretrial phone call to schedule a hearing. According to Cincinnati.com/The Enquirer’s Victoria Moorhead, deputies’ lawyers said they would amend the complaint and include new evidence because Afroman continued to post the officers’ photos and promote the videos and merchandise on social media. Afroman’s attorneys are Tyler Cantrell and Bruce Rivers. Rivers told Moorhead he would not advise Foreman to stop posting, adding, “he’s a free spirit.”
The 700 WLW Weekend podcast’s Dan Carroll featured a conversation with Afroman on the raid and lawsuit on their May 31 program. Foreman said, “I’m doing so good thanks to the Adams County Sheriff’s Department. I’m fresh off Saturday Night Live – I’m on the radio with you – man, I’m back.”
Carroll asked Foreman, “Did you have any indication that you were the subject of an investigation by the Adams County Sheriff’s Department?” Afroman said, “I never had this come to my house. You know, usually, they do that in traffic. But wow – yeah – this is different.” Regarding the “tip” given to the department, Foreman said, “Whoever told them whatever, they ought to go to jail.” He continued, “You shouldn’t be able to just lie to people and jeopardize their lives and not be held accountable for that.”
Foreman explained the videos and merchandise: “I tried to make the best out of a bad situation. I’m trying to make money from the experience and pay for the damage that they did to my house.”
Carroll asked Foreman about his possible run for President in 2024. Foreman stated, “Yes, I am a man. I would like to make medical cannabis and recreational cannabis legal federally in all 50 states.” He said, “I would like to get all law enforcement officers wearing body cameras.”
In the meantime, Afroman continues using inspiration from his experience with the Adams County Sheriff’s Department to write songs. Stay tuned for any future developments.
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