Phenix City employees charged with violation of Alabama’s shelter-in-place order

Two employees of Phenix City, Alabama, have been charged with violating Gov. Kay Ivey’s shelter-in-place order.

According to a press release from Capt. Darryl Williams with the Phenix City Police Department, two employees “made available and participated in an unsanctioned sporting event at a city owned facility,” thereby violating the state’s policy by having more than 10 people present in the same place and not maintaining a six-foot distance between persons.

The employees, Tjai Deion Bryan, 35, and Quadarius Devonte Woods, 26, will be cited for the health code violation set forth by the state of Alabama (Alabama code 22-2-14.)

Knowingly violating or refusing to obey or comply with the order is a class C misdemeanor, according to the press release.

The employees also violated the Alabama Department of Public Health’s temporary health order that closes certain venues and athletic facilities that have “sports that involve interaction with another person of closer than six feet” and “activities that require use of shared sporting apparatus and equipment,” the release states.

Phenix City had also put in place additional guidelines for employees that stressed the importance of following those directives.

Because the actions of the employees are a violation of policy and law, their employment with the city could be terminated, the release states. The investigation into the violation of the policy by the employees is a separate inquiry.

This story was originally published April 9, 2020 at 3:38 PM.