Horrifying in Tampa, FL

UPDATE: Deputy seen dumping man from wheelchair faces felony charge
By The Associated Press

Story Created: Feb 14, 2008 at 3:24 PM EST

Story Updated: Feb 15, 2008 at 10:09 PM EST
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - A deputy who was videotaped dumping a paralyzed man from a wheelchair onto a jailhouse floor now faces arrest.

Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee announced tonight that an arrest warrant has been issued for Charlette Marshall-Jones. The veteran deputy was seen tipping Brian Sterner out of his wheelchair during booking.

Gee says Marshall-Jones knows about the warrant, but he does not know when she will turn herself is. She faces a charge of abuse of a disabled person, a third-degree felony.

If convicted, she could be sent to prison for five years.

Sterner had been arrested January 29th on a warrant for a traffic charge. He had called for charges to be filed against Marshall-Jones.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)



State opens review of man dumped from wheelchair
02/14/08

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Florida Attorney General's office is looking into whether the civil rights of a paralyzed man dumped onto a jailhouse floor were violated.

Surveillance video shows a veteran deputy tipping Brian Sterner out of his wheelchair onto the floor of the from the Orient Road Jail after his arrest Jan. 29 on a traffic warrant.

Attorney General Bill McCollum announced a review of the incident Thursday. If his office finds deputies violated Sterner's civil rights, it could sue on his behalf for up to $10,000 per infraction.

Four detention deputies have been suspended because of the incident.

Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee issued a formal apology to Sterner Wednesday. The 32-year-old says he would like to see criminal charges filed.


(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)