A man sentenced to serve ten years for trafficking cocaine alleges he was savagely beaten by deputies with the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office while incarcerated at the detention center.
Charles Muckle was awaiting transfer to state prison when he claims he was dragged out of his cell and beaten. Earlier this month, his attorney, John G. Walruth, notified Barrow County and the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office of Muckle’s intent to file suit.
According to Walruth, deputies forcibly removed Muckle from his bed, beat him and then placed him in solitary confinement in full body restraints with a bag over his head on or about March 21 of this year.
In a letter to Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith and the county commissioners, Walruth wrote, “This outrageous, deplorable and savage behavior of the deputies is unacceptable in today’s society.”
Walruth further claimed his client has suffered “undue pain and suffering, health problems and extensive emotional distress.”
Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith does not dispute some of the allegations made by Muckle and his attorney. Smith readily concedes that Muckle was removed from his cell, pepper-sprayed and put in a body restraint. Smith also admits a bag was placed over Muckle’s head. What he does dispute is Muckle’s insinuation that his treatment was inappropriate or unprovoked.
According to Smith, Muckle refused to get out of bed for meal time when instructed to do so by a deputy. When Muckle refused to comply with the deputy’s instructions, the deputy requested a supervisor. The supervisor pulled the sheet off Muckle and ordered him out of bed.
Rather than comply with the deputy’s instructions, Muckle “jumped up” and punched the deputy in the face.
Smith said the incident was recorded on detention center surveillance and shows Muckle continuing to struggle and resist deputies even after being pepper-sprayed.
Smith said his deputies had no choice but to place Muckle in body restraints for their safety. The bag was placed over Muckle’s head when he began spitting on the deputies putting them at risk of biohazardous contamination.
Smith said his deputies’ actions were warranted under the circumstances.
Muckle has authorized his attorney to settle the claim for a sum of $10 million.
Isn't it also unacceptable to continue to not follow the rules inside a jail after breaking the law on the street. I know someone will say not everyone on jail is guilty, but then I'll tell you to check the court sentences and see how many plead guilty to get probation instead of going to trial and getting HARD TIME!