Deputy Dumps Quadriplegic Out Of Wheelchair, Caught On Tape
You are looking at the face of one Charlette Marshall-Jones, soon to be EX-Hillsborough County Deputy Charlette Marshall-Jones.
Brian Sterner was brought to the Orient Road Florida Jail on a warrant after a traffic violation.
A warrant for his arrest was issued after an October 25th incident in which Tampa police stopped him in Ybor City. He was stopped while driving a Mini Cooper that had been fitted with hand pedals; Brian Sterner was cited for blocking an intersection.
Brian Sterner is a quadriplegic.
Brian Sterner is a quadriplegic, who is confined to a wheelchair, who can drive a car. Brian has been unable to walk since a wrestling accident in 1994.
Last year, more than 72,000 inmates were processed through the booking center, and more than 230 of them came to jail in wheelchairs.
Deputy Charlette Marshall-Jones was labored with the simple task of searching Brian Sterner upon his arrival. When Brian Sterner explained to Deputy Charlette Marshall-Jones that he was a quadriplegic and unable to stand when she told him to, Charlette became agitated, walked behind Brian’s wheelchair, and promptly dumped him onto floor.
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Brian’s disabled body fell to the floor like spaghetti. Then the hired to protect the public, agitated-for-no-apparent-reason Deputy Charlette Marshall-Jones of Hillsborough County proceeded to search the scary, strong and dangerous Brian Sterner right there on the floor. 3 other Officers, Cpl. Steven Dickey, 45; Cpl. Decondra Williams, 36; and Sgt. Gary Hinson, 51, were also there and did not intervene nor did they report the incident.
Charlette Marshall-Jones’ personnel file shows she has been suspended twice before without pay, a total of seven days for willful neglect of duty and insubordination. She has been verbally reprimanded and counseled for failure to perform duties and a poor attitude. She has repeatedly been warned about sick time abuse.
The January 29, 2008 incident of Charlette Marshall-Jones dumping Brian Sterner out of his wheelchair onto the floor was caught on a CCTV camera at the jail in Hillsborough County.
and a follow-on video here.
The Hillsborough Sheriffs Department, despite several officers being aware of the incident and the video footage the Sheriffs Department themselves had, knew nothing of the incident until Brian Sterner contacted a Tampa Bay newspaper. The Tampa Bay newspaper obtained the video and showed the Sheriffs Department their own tape.
Now an investigation is underway.
A warrant for Charlette Marshall-Jones’ arrest was announced Friday night by Sheriff David Gee. Charlette Marshall-Jones, 44, turned herself in at Orient Road Jail Saturday morning February 16, 2008 at 5 a.m., dressed in black and wearing a cowboy hat. She was booked, processed and released at 6:18 a.m. on $3,500 bail. She is being represented by Tampa criminal defense lawyer Norman Cannella Sr.
Sheriff David Gee ordered Charlette Marshall-Jones be suspended without pay and the three other officers, Cpl. Steve Dickey, 45; Cpl. Decondra Williams, 36; and Sgt. Gary Hinson, 51 also suspended, but with pay. If convicted, Jones could face 5 years in jail.
Chief Deputy Joe Docobo, Hillsborough Sheriff’s Office says based on what he saw on the tape, “Anything short of dismissal would be inappropriate.”
Regarding the two corporals and the sergeant, “Ultimately, they need to be fired, and that will occur,” says Brian Sterner’s attorney, John Trevena.
Sheriff David Gee released a statement on February 13, 2008. That statement can be viewed here.
Brian Sterner earned a masters degree in philosophy at Gonzaga University in Washington state. In 2000 Brian began work on a Ph.D. at the University of South Florida. Also as a teaching assistant, he has taught Introduction to Philosophy, Critical Thinking, Medical Ethics, and a course on Disability Studies. In January of 2004 Brian took over as Director of FSCIRC. In his spare time he is an active participant in wheelchair sports. He is a member of the Tampa Generals wheelchair rugby team and also enjoys pushing a wheelchair racer and swimming.
Why did Deputy Charlette Marshall-Jones dump a quadriplegic out of a wheelchair?
At various times from the moment Brian Sterner was dumped out of his wheelchair other deputies could be seen on camera. Why did no one seem surprised by the act of dumping a man from his wheelchair or step in to halt the mistreatment?
The four deputies put on leave have a combined 86 years of experience at the Sheriff’s Office. What exactly are the supervisors supervising?
“Confined to a wheelchair” : Wheelchairs are not confining, they are liberating. Without a wheelchair, one could certainly be confined. A better way to say it is “uses a wheelchair.”
My god. They dumped him from his wheel chair? Has the whole world gone mad?
Unfortunately, law enforcement is an attractive career field to bullies and misanthropes, who hope to act out their free-floating hostility without penalty, under cover of “job performance.”
It is the task of the employer (police department, sheriff’s office) to first screen candidates, then supervise and monitor closely for any with violent tendencies who were able to enter the force without detection.
As is suggested in the last paragraph, above, while officers are absolutely responsible for their own bad behavior, management is responsible for its failure to identify them through appropriate supervision and remove them expeditiously from the department.
Looks like some discipline on a higher level may also be warranted.
I’ve come across far too many ‘bully types’ in law enforcement. I agree with you, it’s an attractive career for these types of people. Many officers are in law enforcement for the wrong reasons. There are many that are very good, which we cannot overlook to be fair; however there are many who are not. I’m glad they are there when I need them. I’m discouraged when I come across types like the above. It is a real disgrace to what the good officers try hard to portray.