By C1 Staff
COLUMBUS, Ga. — The Columbus NAACP is calling for two Muscogee County Jail deputies to face charges for a two-year-old incident at the jail.
WRBL reports that the group is making the demand after receiving a copy of the incident that occurred in July 2013. They said they needed to act quickly because the statute of limitations for the case runs out in July.
Deputy Anthony Ermi, one of two deputies seen striking inmate Christopher Russell in the video, said in his report that Russell started cussing at him after not receiving his diabetic snack on time.
Russell was in the middle of being moved to another cell for disruptive behavior when he continued to badger the deputy, according to Ermi.
As the two enter an elevator, Ermi threw an apple at Russell, saying “Here is your snack;” the apple struck Russell in the shoulder. Ermi says that Russell threw his belongings to the ground and “got in his face for a second time.”
Ermi then responded by using an open hand strike to gain control.
Russell disputes this course of events, claiming he never got in Ermi’s face.
Deputy Juan A. Merritt, also involved in the incident, also hit Russell in order to gain compliance. He was later fired from the department for insurance fraud.
Ermi was punished by the sheriff’s office for excessive use of force and suspended for three days.
Russell was in jail after being arrested for theft and robbery charges, which were later dismissed.