I-TEAM: Unlawful torture lawsuits filed against Richmond County Sheriff’s Office
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - The I-TEAM has learned of three civil rights lawsuits alleging unlawful torture against the Richmond County Sheriff’s early Friday morning.
According to the lawsuit, three separate allegations of unlawful torture while in confinement at the Richmond County Jail have been filed against six deputies involved and Sheriff Richard Roundtree.
The plaintiffs claim they were tortured by the deputies listed, during an incident at the jail in May of 2022, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit states six deputies were responding to a call from other deputies to assist with a group of inmates.
When deputies arrived at the cell block, the plaintiffs were lying down on the ground of the second floor with other inmates - with their heads down and their hands behind their backs.
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The lawsuit goes on to say the deputies ordered them to get down and put their hands behind their backs, despite the plaintiffs already being in a submissive position.
The suit claims the deputies handcuffed the inmates, picked them up, took them down to the first floor, and pushed them to lie face down - but the floor was flooded.
From there, the lawsuit claims the deputies started to physically abuse the plaintiffs.
Our Meredith Anderson has been following what led up to multiple deputy arrests in connection to this case.
READ JONES’ LAWSUIT:
READ WALKER’S LAWSUIT:
READ ADAM’S LAWSUIT:
Abuse isn’t the only accusation against the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.
Back in April, the I-TEAM learned of a second lawsuit alleging racial discrimination in the workplace against Sheriff Richard Roundtree.
Could these new lawsuits – and the others— speak to morale inside the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office?
Perhaps not on their own.
However, combined with what we’ve uncovered in the last few months, it certainly raises questions about what is going on there.
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