Seven inmates were wounded with shanks in a bloody fight just before breakfast Sunday at the Richmond County jail, leading to new charges against nine men, authorities said.
Inmates in the B-block of the G-pod were walking out of their cells for breakfast around 6:30 a.m. Sunday when several inmates began to “square up with each other,” a sheriff’s reports says.
DeQuinn Hamlin – in jail on a 2021 murder charge – pulled out a shank and repeatedly stabbed Madison Lewis, a teenager who is awaiting trial for armed robbery. The stabbing sparked a larger fight inside one of the most dangerous wings of the Charles B. Webster Detention Center in Augusta.
The continuing chaos and violence comes two months after Sheriff Richard Roundtree declared the jail in crisis and asked the Augusta commission for nearly $500,000 to help with upgrades. “We are in an emergency situation,” Roundtree said.
It also comes as several jailers have been arrested for bringing in contraband or beating up an inmate, as was the case in a Feb. 23 incident that led to charges against two detention officers. Sheriff Roundtree called that incident a “wake-up call” to his agency in a press conference. He had previously declined to discuss conditions at the jail.
In February, one of the suspects in the drive-by shooting death of 8-year-old Arbrie Anthony was hospitalized after an attack at the jail. Antoine Redfield was “assaulted in his cell” and was transported to the hospital for superficial injures.
And in January, a jailhouse video was posted of a murder suspect being bullied and forced to place his face in a cell toilet.
Who participated in Sunday’s fight? A sheriff’s report breaks out who those engaged in the fight and who was injured:
· Michael Mitchell (in jail for murder charge) – Observed holding a shank. Michael Mitchell approached Stephen Anderson and Madison Lewis while they were being beat and stabbed. Michael Mitchell kicked Stephen Anderson and Madison Lewis and kept others from aiding them as his co-defendants stabbed and beat them.
· Roger Fielding (in jail for weapon and obstruction charges) – Initially fled out of camera view while pulling a shank from his jumpsuit. Roger Fielding was observed stabbing Dezmin Freeman multiple times.
· Tony Landers (in jail for aggravated assault and gang activity charges) – was observed stabbing Jeremiah Kelly and Dezmin Freeman.
· DeQuinn Hamlin – Began the conflict by producing a shank and stabbing Madison Lewis. DeQuinn Hamlin then got on top of Madison Lewis and began stabbing him multiple additional times.
· Anquavius Hill (in jail for armed robbery and aggravated assault charges) – held down Jeremiah Kelly while other inmates were stabbing him.
· Reginald Harris Jr. (in jail for aggravated assault and child cruelty charges) – Stood on the steps between the 1st and 2nd floor armed with a shank. Not observed actively fighting.
· Farrel Crawford (in jail for armed robbery charges) – armed with a long sock filled with a heavy object, makeshift flail. Farrel Crawford used the flail to beat Stephen Anderson in the head and body.
· Keeli Ware (in jail for a Superior Court hold) – initially fled out of camera view and returned to view in a fist fight with Farrel Crawford. After getting free from Farrel Crawford he fled again. Not observed participating in any stabbing.
· Stephen Anderson (in jail for order to show cause in Superior Court) – Initially rears back to punch multiple people that approach and are attempting to help DeQuinn Hamlin stab Madison Lewis. Stephen Anderson is knocked to the ground by Farrell Crawford and another unidentified inmate. Stephen Anderson is then assault by Farrell Crawford, Michael Mitchell, an unidentified inmate, and DeQuinn Hamlin. Multiple other inmates approach, hit, and stab Stephen Anderson while he is on the ground.
· Dezmin Freeman (in jail for armed robbery charges) – Runs off camera and reenters with a shank. Dezmin Freeman then got into a stabbing match with Tony Landres.
· Jeremiah Kelly – Initially fled and was knocked to the ground. Tony Landers, Anquavius Hill, and other unidentified inmates held him down, and stabbed him. Was later found with a shank by Deputy Jailer Corby McIntyre.
· Madison Lewis (in jail for armed robbery charges) – Initial person stabbed not observed fighting or with a weapon.
Other inmates were involved in the altercation but could not be identified in the surveillance video, the sheriff’s report says.
Who was injured? Among those wounded: Jeremiah Kelly, Stephen Anderson, Dezmin Freeman, Keeli Ware, Madison Lewis, Roger Fielding, and Tony Landers. The specific wounds are described in the sheriff’s report:
· Jeremiah Kelly – 15 stab wounds to the back, and one deep stab wound to the left bicep which required him to be transported to Piedmont Hospital for treatment.
· Stephen Anderson – Stab wounds to left forehead, 7 stab wounds to the back, one abrasion to the right elbow, multiple bruises and split skin along the top of his head. Stephen Anderson lost consciousness in jail medical and was transported to Augusta University Medical Center for treatment.
· Dezmin Freeman – Stab wound on the left side of his face next to his left eye, a stab wound to the top of his left shoulder, and a stab wound to the back of his left shoulder. Treated in Jail Medical.
· Keeli Ware – Cut behind the left arm and cut on his left hand middle finger. Treated in Jail Medical.
· Madison Lewis – Cut on and behind the left ear. Three stab wound to the front right abdomen. Treated in Jail Medical.
· Roger Fielding – Small cut on the right leg. Treated in Jail Medical.
· Tony Landers – Two small nicks on the chest. Treated in Jail Medical.
All injured inmates were treated and have returned to jail, a report says.
How many shanks were found? A search of the pod resulted in 10 pieces of sharpened metal commonly referred to as shanks: Two under the day room toilet, one in the top bunk of room 5, one in the toilet of room 4, one in room 6, one room 13, four in the toilet of room 15.
One additional shank was taken from Jeremiah Kelly by Deputy Corby McIntyre while stopping the fight and locating victims, the report says. An additional shank was located in jail medical after multiple inmates had been through the treatment room, a report says.
Who was charged? Authorities filed formal charges against these inmates: Michael Mitchell, Roger Fielding, Tony Landers, DeQuinn Hamlin, Anquavius Hill, Reginald Harris Jr., Farrel Crawford, Dezmin Freeman and Jeremiah Kelly.
