PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — A corrections deputy was arrested Thursday and fired after punching a hospitalized inmate last month, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
Inmate George Miller, 56, was arrested May 29 by St. Petersburg police for delony battery, criminal mischief to a place of worshop and burglary of an occupied dwelling. After being unable to make bail, he was held at the Pinellas County Jail pending the resolution of his charges.
“Miller was known by Pinellas County corrections deputies as being a problematic inmate as he often caused problems with fellow inmates and jail staff,” the sheriff’s office said.
While in custody, he suffered a medical event on Nov. 20 and was hospitalized for treatment. It was discovered that he needed surgery and, as is standard practice, deputies remained with him at the hospital, the sheriff’s office said.
According to PCSO policy, MIller was in a single-occupancy room and was required to be restrained while in the hospital bed unless he was actively receiving medical care.
Deputy James Jones was assigned to guard Miller at the hospital on Dec. 1.
Jones reported that the inmate was throwing a “temper tantrum” that night around 8 p.m., the sheriff’s office said.
Later that night, a registered nurse heard Miller and Jones loudly arguing and she saw the deputy “slam-dunk” punch the inmate in the chest, according to PCSO.
That same nurse later saw a contusion around Miller’s left cheek and a laceration above his left eye. He told the nurse that Jones “punched the [expletive] out of me,” the sheriff’s office said.
The nurse reported the incident to her supervisor, who alerted PCSO.
An investigation started and evidence showed that Miller didn’t have any injuries prior to the argument with Jones.
When questioned, Jones alleged that Miller kicked him, which was inconsistent with the investigation, the sheriff’s office said.
Jones was arrested Jan. 28 and immediately terminated by PCSO.
“There was simply no lawful reason for Deputy Jones to strike Miller, and in doing so he committed a crime, he committed a battery,” Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said. “Deputy Jones didn’t act as a deputy sheriff should act, he didn’t act professionally and just handle the situation. He lost his temper and he split open Miller’s eye, punched him in the chest and split open his eye, and he has to be accountable for that.”