By Lisa Gartner
Tampa Bay Times
LARGO — A Pinellas County deputy was arrested Monday for striking a 15-year-old inmate last summer and lying about his motives, marking the fifth dismissal of a county deputy in six months.
Joel De Los Reyes, 51, hit the teenage inmate for “mouthing off,” Sheriff Bob Gualtieri told reporters at a news conference Monday. Another deputy, Adrian Nenu, was suspended for not reporting his colleague’s use of excessive force.
“I’m sorry it happened,” Gualtieri said. “I’m sorry our people did something like this.”
Full story: Pinellas deputy arrested for striking teenage inmate (with video)