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| Report Clears Jailers in Handling Football Player; FBI Now Investigating |
| By WJXT |
| Published: 03/05/2003 |
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An police Internal Affairs investigation released Wednesday found that corrections officers did nothing wrong in the handling of a Notre Dame football player jailed for trespassing in December, but the case is far from closed. Fighting Irish linebacker Chad Debolt was arrested after police said he refused to leave the Ocean Club in Jacksonville Beach after a disturbance. Witnesses say he was loud and obnoxious, but he was not injured when he was taken from the scene. Hours later, when police took a booking photograph of Debolt, he had cuts, bruises and his eyes were swollen shut. The internal investation ordered by Sheriff Nat Glover after Debolt's release says that all of the officers involved followed proper procedures. It says Debolt was injured when they had to push him down to the floor him while in custody and officers used pepper spray to get him into a restraint chair. The report says the use of force was necessary because Debolt was drunk and resisting officers. It says that once Debolt was in the restraint chair, no additional force was used. The report does quote interviews with prisoners in the jail that witness the encounter that said Debolt did not appear to be intoxicated at the time. 'Inmate Jones described Debolt as inquisitive, continually asking officers 'What is going on? Why are ya'll being like this?'' the report says. In remarks Wednesday about the Internal Affairs findings, Glover said federal authories were now investigating Debolt's treatment while in the Duval County Jail. 'I understand the FBI is conducting their own civil-rights investigation, and, certainly, we will cooperate with them,' Glover said. 'We at the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office welcome a check-and-balance process.' Debolt pleaded not guilty last month to trespassing charges. His attorney said that Debolt was brutally beaten by officers and he is considering filing a lawsuit against the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. Debolt himself is in London and couldn't be reach for comment. |
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Do you know someone who has been arrested in Waco or McLennan County? It’s important to find a good Waco lawyer to represent you in the matter involving your own liberty. Look for the best Waco Attorney that you can find. Whether you have been accused rightly or wrongly, it’s important to know your legal rights that concern whether you go to jail.