By Ryan Seals
News & Record
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Federal authorities are investigating a complaint by a former jail inmate who says detention officers assaulted him and violated his civil rights, according to the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff BJ Barnes said he was contacted Wednesday by FBI investigators, who asked for files about a complaint by former inmate Robert Christopher Parks.
The alleged assault happened on Feb. 22 and was investigated by the sheriff’s office and the department’s professional standards division.
The Guilford County District Attorney’s Office refused to prosecute the case.
Barnes said that because the probe resulted in reviews of the department’s personnel and policies, he is unable to share more information about the investigation with the public.
“We have been completely cooperative with the FBI and have shared the information they have asked for,” he said. “As always, we are more than happy to assist in any investigation.”
Barnes said a use of force was involved in the incident and Parks suffered no visible injuries. Barnes would not elaborate.
Parks, 42, of Ruffin, was being held at the jail while he filed an appeal on a possession of firearms by a felon conviction in federal court.
He was sentenced to serve 41 months in federal prison on Feb. 12, records state. He currently is being held at a federal detention center in Fort Dix, N.J.
His wife, Cindy Parks, declined to discuss the case when reached by phone Thursday night, saying she wanted to speak with her lawyer first.
Copyright 2010 News & Record