The North Carolina sheriff’s deputy who pepper-sprayed and punched a Black man in the back of the head inside a courthouse — only for the Black man to return multiple punches, forcing the deputy to back away — has been charged with assault.
Gregory Colson left the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office following the Jan. 22 incident captured on surveillance video, showing him attacking Don Long, a 39-year-old truck driver.
On Aug. 27, Colson was charged with simple assault, according to North Carolina court records – a Class 2 misdemeanor with a maximum sentence of 30 days in jail for first offenders.
“Gregory Colson, bailiff for Northampton County Sheriff’s Office, did assault Don Long by striking him in his head from behind after a verbal confrontation at the Northampton Co. Courthouse,” states the affidavit filed on Aug. 28, and a criminal summons was served on Sept. 9.
“Long had been pepper sprayed and was not aggressive by means of physical threat at the time.”
Court records do not indicate Colson has been jailed, but he has a scheduled hearing on September 24.
Attorney Gerald Griggs posted the news on his Instagram channel on Thursday, saying Long “suffered permanent eye damage and vision impairment after Colson allegedly sprayed pepper spray directly into his eyes at close range.”
Griggs filed the lawsuit on behalf of Long along with attorney Harry M. Daniels on June 11.
“Defendant Colson acted with a depraved indifference to human life and conscious disregard for the safety of the general public,” the claim states.
“The actions of Defendant Colson have been taken maliciously, willfully or with a reckless or wanton disregard of the constitutional rights of Mr. Long.”
On the day of the incident, Long was scheduled to appear in court after two white women had accused him of threatening them in August 2025.
On Jan. 21, the day before the hearing, Long described the incident on his Facebook page, explaining that it had taken place inside a Speedway convenience store when a man named Danny Bolton Jr. called him a racial slur.
He accused two women, Rebecca Gibson and Tammy Lynn McGaha, who apparently worked there, of shoving him out of the store while defending Bolton.
He said he left, and officers later pulled him over but did not arrest him.
Long accused the women of lying about the alleged assault and threats and said he was looking forward to the truth coming out in court.
“See you, ladies, in court tomorrow, and I hope you guys are not trying to drop nothing cause I want the whole truth to come out and see y’all hit with perjury and falsifying police reports,” he wrote on his Facebook page.
Court records show the charges were dismissed on Sept. 10.
However, the charges were still active when he walked into the Northampton County Courthouse in Jackson on Jan. 22 for a mandatory hearing, only to be confronted by a deputy, who ordered him to leave his phone inside his car.
Long complied with the deputy’s order, then tried to walk back into the courtroom for his hearing, but Colson still would not allow him to enter the courtroom, telling him he would allow him inside at his “own discretion,” the claim states.
But Long was concerned he would miss his hearing, which would have led to a contempt of court charge. Meanwhile, another woman was allowed to enter the courtroom while Long was ordered to remain outside.
‘Assaulted and Maced by a Tyrant and Racist Cop’
The claim states that Long opened the door to inquire about being allowed inside, but Colson shoved him back outside, then punched him in the left eye and the side of the head.
“Mr. Long called out for help, raising his hands in the air and shouting for assistance,” the claim states.
“At no point did Mr. Long pose any physical threat or exert any physical force towards Defendant Colson or any other individuals. The attack by Defendant Colson was entirely unprovoked.”
“While Mr. Long called out for assistance, Defendant Colson discharged his OC spray directly into Mr. Long’s eyes,” the claim continues.
Surveillance video shows Long trying to walk away from Colson while rubbing his eyes because of the pepper spray, but the deputy continued striking him in the back of the head, prompting Long to strike back with several punches.
Colson quickly retreated, and Long tried to walk away but was handcuffed by other deputies. However, he was never charged with a crime.
By the time Long filed his lawsuit in June, Colson was no longer employed by the sheriff’s office, ending a 30-year career.
“He was either fired or forced to resign,” Daniels said in a telephone interview with Atlanta Black Star in June.
Long, who has expressed gratitude for the surveillance video capturing the truth, continued to express gratitude on his Facebook page towards the investigators who charged Colson.
“I didn’t hesitate to speak out when all that happen back in January with my situation being assaulted and maced by a tyrant and racist officer!” he posted on his Facebook page on Thursday.
“I take the time to not only salute you guys but to appreciate everyone involved for doing the right thing/making the right call by me and my family!”
