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| S.C. Jail officer Charged with Assault |
| By Beaufort Gazette |
| Published: 03/05/2003 |
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A Beaufort County Detention Center officer was arrested Tuesday and charged with assaulting an inmate last week. Michael Pope, 40, was charged with the Jan. 9 assault and battery of inmate Jermel James, 18, of Burton, according to a Beaufort Police Department report. The incident occurred at about 10 p.m. in the inmate's cell, after James asked if he could be let out of his room, according to Beaufort Police. 'I asked if I could come out for cleanup,' James told police for the report. 'He told me to lay É down. He set his walkie-talkie down, then punched me, slapped me,' according to the report. James told the officer, 'I'm ugly, but I could take your wife,' according to the report. Pope then entered the cell and closed the door behind him, the report states. Pope pushed James onto the bed and when James tried to get up, Pope punched him, the report states. A struggle ensued and the two wrestled on the bed, according to the report. James was able to get the upper hand during the struggle, the report states, and another inmate came in and tried to restrain James. Other detention center officers arrived and Pope struck James in the mouth, according to the report. James is in jail for violating probation stemming from an attempted armed robbery charge, according to police. It wasn't certain when that charge occurred Tuesday. Pope remains an employee of the jail, but Detention Center Director Mark Fitzgibbons wouldn't comment on whether he was on paid or unpaid suspension, or suspended at all. Fitzgibbons would not comment on anything else relating to the case. 'It's being investigated internally,' Fitzgibbons said. 'I can't discuss anything until the investigation is completed.' Fitzgibbons said the detention center has a protocol it must follow. 'Anytime we have a situation and get a complaint from an inmate, we have a internal investigation,' Fitzgibbons said. 'We have to determine if it's a violation of policy.' Fitzgibbons said when a detention center officer puts his hands on an inmate, it's considered a use of force. He said in those cases, a form has to be filled out concerning the incident so it can be reviewed. 'We have to determine if the use of force was justifiable,' Fitzgibbons said. At a bond hearing Tuesday, Pope was released on his own recognizance. |
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