Nexus Wants Investigations into Augusta County Sheriff’s Office - NBC29 WVIR Charlottesville, VA News, Sports and Weather

A company that's suing the Augusta County sheriff and some of his deputies is now demanding state and federal investigations into the sheriff's office. This latest complaint follows a series of traffic stops in Augusta County involving undocumented immigrants.

Verona-based Nexus Services is sending letters to U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch and Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring. The company is requesting investigations into potential criminal misconduct by the Augusta County sheriff and his deputies.

This started with a series of traffic stops on Interstate 81 last week by the sheriff's new Criminal Interdiction Unit. The sheriff's office pulled over a vehicle at the Weyers Cave rest stop. Investigators say a driver was trying to “transport an illegal immigrant to New York City.”

Deputies say that led them to stop a second vehicle carrying six people illegally in the United States. All were turned over to the Department of Homeland Security.

Nexus alleges racial profiling since the sheriff has not explained why deputies pulled those cars over in the first place.

“The reality is that the actions of the sheriff's department and, even more importantly, the public release from the sheriff's department, serve to send a clear message to brown people traveling through Augusta County,” said Mike Donovan, Nexus Services president and CEO. “That message is we're after you and you're not safe.”

Nexus says the sheriff's office has no authority to make immigration arrests.

Sheriff Donald Smith had no comment on the investigation. He also declined to comment on these requests for state and federal investigations into his office because he is involved in a federal lawsuit with Nexus.     

The company is suing Smith and several deputies alleging constitutional rights violations and defamation.