Former Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office director sues Sheriff McFadden, alleges retaliation and racism ...Middle East

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) -- A former employee with the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office is suing Sheriff Garry McFadden, accusing him of retaliation, racial discrimination, and wrongful termination.

Dr. Angelia Riggsbee, who served as the agency's director of business operations from March to November 2024, claims she was fired after reporting serious issues within the department, including racial pay disparities and attempts to alter public records.

According to the federal lawsuit, Riggsbee discovered that a longtime Black female manager was being paid significantly less than white colleagues in similar or even lower-ranking positions. She reportedly raised concerns in June 2024, warning that the pay gaps could lead to legal consequences.

Riggsbee claims her concerns were ignored by Sheriff McFadden, who later denied a request to correct the pay disparities without explanation. Things reportedly escalated when she alleges that McFadden’s office told her to alter travel expense records before they were released to the Charlotte Observer, a request she refused, calling it unethical and possibly illegal.

“On March the 20th, 2024, I reached the high point of my career,” Riggsbee said during a news conference Friday.

But she says it wasn’t long before she reached the lowest point.

“This retaliation has shattered my life. Because of the sheriff, I have suffered financially, mentally and emotionally,” said Riggsbee.

Riggsbee claims she was wrongly fired last November.

“At the direction of the sheriff, I was then escorted by officers off the premises in a cruel and humiliating way,” said Riggsbee.

The lawsuit also describes a toxic workplace culture, claiming McFadden created an environment of “retaliation and racism.” The suit cites public criticisms from former senior staff, including former Chief Deputy Kevin Canty, who resigned in November 2024 and described the department under McFadden as a “third-world dictatorship.”

Following her reports, Riggsbee claims McFadden became increasingly hostile, referring to her as a “problem” and pushing to discipline her without cause. Despite receiving a performance rating of “Exceeds Expectations” and a raise in August 2024, Riggsbee was fired just two weeks after Canty’s resignation, according to the lawsuit.

“You can’t retaliate against someone who’s honestly reporting that kind of issue. There’s also another type of protection and that’s reporting any type of misconduct or issues,” explained Riggsbee’s attorney, Michael Patrick Doyle, at the news conference.

McFadden has claimed her termination was due to unsatisfactory performance, a claim Riggsbee said is “false and pretextual.”

The sheriff's office provided the following response to the lawsuit:

We acknowledge Dr. Riggsbee's right to pursue this matter through the courts. Given our role of serving one of the largest counties in North Carolina, we understand that legal actions are not uncommon. Out of respect for the judicial process, we will not be making further comments while this litigation is pending.

It accuses McFadden of violating federal civil rights laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, and North Carolina state law.

McFadden, a former CMPD detective, has been the elected sheriff of Mecklenburg County since 2018. Riggsbee’s lawsuit is the latest in a string of issues for the sheriff.

Riggsbee’s lawyers say she’s seeking an unspecified amount of money in damages due to her lost wages and her inability to find work after she was fired. She believes that’s because she spoke out publicly against McFadden right after she was terminated.

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