Clayton County correctional officer arrested for assaulting inmate in jail confrontation
Darius Roberts (Clayton County Sheriff's Office)
CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. - A Clayton County correctional officer has been arrested and fired after allegedly assaulting an inmate during a confrontation at the county jail, the sheriff’s office announced on Friday.
What we know:
Correctional Officer Darius Roberts was terminated and taken into custody following a violent incident on May 7.
According to the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office, the altercation began with a verbal dispute between Roberts and an inmate, escalating when Roberts "threw the first punch, striking the inmate several times before slamming him to the ground and ultimately tasing him." Other officers and staff had to intervene and physically pull Roberts away from the inmate.
What we don't know:
It is not clear when Roberts will next appear in court.
What they're saying:
Roberts has been charged with battery, simple assault, and violation of oath of office.
"Inmates or citizens may try to bait you, but you are expected to rise above such challenges—whether they involve name-calling, slurs, or anything that may hurt your feelings," Sheriff Levon Allen said. "Just as I will charge an inmate for fighting another inmate or for fighting an officer, if I find out an officer has attacked an inmate, I will charge them as well."
Dig deeper:
Roberts was hired by the sheriff’s office on Aug. 17, 2024, and was officially terminated the day of the incident.
The Source: The details and image in this article were provided by the Clayton County Sheriff's Office through a public release.