A Pinellas County Sheriff\u2019s Office corrections deputy has been arrested and terminated following an investigation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
James Jones, 66, was arrested Wednesday evening for battery. He posted a $1,000 bail and was released. The officer had worked for the PCSO since 2021.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jones was assigned to guard George Miller at the St. Petersburg-based HCA Florida Northside Hospital in December, Sheriff Bob Gualtieri explained at a media event today.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Miller had been arrested by the St. Petersburg Police Department for burglary, felony battery and criminal mischief in May. As soon the inmate entered the Pinellas County Jail, he became \u201cproblematic\u201d and caused issues with staff members.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After experiencing a medical event in November, Miller was brought to the hospital. It was later determined that he would need surgery, Gualtieri said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jones began to guard Miller Dec. 1. Around 8 p.m., he told his supervisor that the inmate was throwing a \u201ctemper tantrum.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
There was an \u201cindication\u201d that Miller may have not been \u201cproperly restrained,\u201d Gualtieri explained. However, this could not be confirmed due to a lack of video evidence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
About two and a half hours after the officer first reported the behavior, a registered nurse was standing outside Miller\u2019s room and \u201cheard a shouting match\u201d between the two men.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Once she walked into the room, the medical professional witnessed Jones physically assault Miller. She described it as a \u201cslam dunk\u201d punch in the middle of his chest. Additionally, the nurse would later notice a \u201ccontusion\u201d on Miller\u2019s left cheek and a \u201claceration\u201d over his eye.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She reported the incident to her supervisor and hospital representatives contacted the Pinellas County Sheriff\u2019s Office. Upon the investigation, it was determined that Miller did not have any injuries prior to the event, Gualtieri said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After Jones\u2019 supervisor asked him about the incident, the deputy said that Miller had \u201ckicked\u201d and \u201cstruck\u201d him. However, the evidence is \u201ccontrary to that.\u201d Gualtieri added that Jones\u2019 statements were \u201cinconsistent\u201d with the facts.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The officer never officially reported being attacked by Miller that evening.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is simply no lawful reason for Deputy Jones to strike Miller and in doing so, he committed a crime,\u201d said Gualtieri. \u201cJones didn\u2019t act professionally and just handle the situation. He lost his temper and split open Miller\u2019s eye and punched him in the chest. He\u2019s gotta be accountable for that.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n