LEE COUNTY, Fla. -- A former Lee County Deputy speaking out for the first time defending himself for what some critics are calling racially charged posts on his Facebook page.
The Lee County Sheriff's office announced their internal investigation of Chuck Quackenbush after a Lee County resident submitted an official complaint.
Meanwhile, his wife, Chris Quackenbush, says this is a tactic from her opposition to end her campaign.
"They plotted to do this for one specific reason," she said. "I'm running for school board and they don't like it."
Politicians, friends, and church leaders defended the couple during a news conference Tuesday afternoon. Chris Quackenbush claims the attack on her husband is politically motivated, while supporters say the media is at fault for taking the bait.
"For the media to add fuel to the fire to this tense time of racial stress is totally irresponsible," A supporter said.
The posts in question were posted publicly months ago, one shows an African- American man holding a sign reading, "No mother should have to fear for her son's life every time he robs a store."
"They were taken out of context to say they're racially-based," Quackenbush said. "They're not."
Chuck Quackenbush retired days after the investigation by the Lee County Sheriff's office was announced. Four In Your Corner asked Quackenbush if he had any regrets about his social media use.
"The regrets that I have is that someone took those wrong and was able to engineer that against me which reflects on all other officers too, which is one of the reasons I left as quickly as I could," he said.
When Four In Your Corner asked Quackenbush if he would feel comfortable showing his posts to students in our community, he told FOX 4 he stands with his public comments.
"I think they're provocative, but I have no problem with it."
You can watch the entire press conference on the FOX 4 Facebook page.
