BREAKING: Bodycam footage of the Carper incident released

KANAWHA COUNTY, WV (WOWK) — The City of Charleston has released bodycam footage captured by a city police officer investigating a charge of public nuisance against former Kanawha County Commissioner Kent Carper.

The nine-minute video was provided to 13 News through a Freedom of Information Act request. You can watch it in the video player above.

The video was taken at Daniel Boone Park on May 15, 2023, when 911 dispatched police to Charleston Park after a woman called to say that a man, now identified as Commissioner Carper, was being indecent toward her had exposed.

The patrol officer who responded was Hart Childress, who happens to be the boyfriend of Megan Estep, Commissioner Lance Wheeler’s administrative assistant.

Childress spoke to both Carper and the caller on May 15 at Daniel Boone Park. Carper was questioned but not cited and was allowed to leave.

Hours later, Carper allegedly emailed Estep asking if she would be interested in becoming golf superintendent at a county park.

After the events of May 15, Carper’s family issued a statement saying he had been suffering from an illness in the park that day and that it had all been a “terrible misunderstanding.” Later that same week, Carper then underwent open-heart bypass surgery.

Carper resigned from the Kanawha County Commission on May 10, effective Sunday, May 12. May 10 was the same day that the U.S. attorney and a special prosecutor decided not to file criminal charges. He will not face charges in Charleston Municipal Court, according to city officials.

Carper participated in the primary last Tuesday but said he would not run for office even if renominated. Challenger Natalie Tennant defeated Carper with 86% of the vote.

The Kanawha County Commission met to discuss the process to replace Carper. The two remaining commissioners have 30 days to fill the vacant seat on the board, according to the West Virginia State Code. You must vote Democrat since that is Carper’s party affiliation.

The commission says there will be a special meeting to appoint the new commissioner on Thursday, May 30.