A Muscogee County Sheriff’s deputy physically forcing a jail inmate to the floor resulted in two jail employees resigning this month, Sheriff John Darr said.
Former Deputy Charles Lucas, a seven-year veteran, and former correctional officer Christopher Pritchett, an employee for one year, resigned after the sheriff’s office began the process to terminate both of them, Darr said Monday.
Both men were present in April when a man, being booked into the Muscogee County Jail on a DUI charge, said something that upset Lucas, Darr said.
“He was taken to the ground harder than he should have been taken to the ground,” the sheriff added. “You can’t do that. Him mouthing off, and that’s what they’re saying he did, does not condone that action.”
Darr said the man had no external injuries. He was taken to the jail clinic.
The sheriff learned about the incident the next day from the jail commander. Investigators were then called in, and their investigation took between one and two weeks, Darr said.
Pritchett, while not directly involved, left information out of his report, Darr said.
“You can’t be leaving things out of reports,” the sheriff added.
Procedures at the jail haven’t been changed, Darr said.
“We expect more out of our officers,” the sheriff said. “We’re not going to tolerate this type of behavior from any of our employees. We should be held to a higher standard.”
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