By Katie Nix
The Herald-Sun
DURHAM, N.C. — Arrest warrants for two jail employees say the women hit an inmate with closed fists, leading to their firing earlier this week.
Officers Anita Alston and Rachel Smith were charged with simple assault and misdemeanor obstruction of justice after they “unlawfully and willingly did assault and strike Genapher Moenick Page by hitting with closed fists.”
Both women were arrested Monday and were held at the jail in lieu of $5,000 bond. They have since been released and are to have no further contact with Page.
The incident took place Sept. 27 while Page was being held on a felony probation violation. After the incident she was charged with two counts of assault causing physical injury of a detention center employee, communicating threats and resisting a public officer. She was being held at the Durham County jail in lieu of $40,000 bond.
The sheriff’s office said in a news release Monday that the incident was “a clear-cut violation of policy.”
Sheriff Mike Andrews said in the release that officers work in a difficult, complex environment.
“Many times they work in a pod and supervise 50 or more persons, some of whom are hostile and suffer from mental difficulties,” he said. “It is important that detention officers follow Sheriff’s Office guidelines when interacting with the inmate population. There is a process in place which leads to the review of any incident involving non-compliance with our policy and procedure.”
Alston and Smith are to have their first court appearance on Jan. 12.
Copyright 2015 The Herald-Sun