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Richmond County authorities continue to deal with contraband cell phones in the jail as a video was posted Saturday of a murder suspect being bullied and forced to place his face in a cell toilet.
The man seen on the video appears to be Antionous Thomas, one of seven LOE gang members identified as the alleged killers of 8-year-old Arbrie Anthony a year ago.
In the video – posted and later removed on Facebook from the account of Speedy Dunn – shows the 21-year-old inmate being forced to place his face down the toilet as he is screamed at. Later, he is ordered to “show your face.” The young man appears to cover his face with both hands in fear.
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Authorities said Saturday afternoon that they were aware of the video and were narrowing down the cell to address it.
The sheriff’s office has struggled to keep cell phones out of the jail and arrested a deputy this month for allegedly selling them to inmates.
Deputy Jermaine Rockett, 39, was arrested and fired after the sheriff’s office investigated allegations that he was bringing in prohibited cell phones to inmates.
Rockett has been charged with violation of oath of office and items prohibited for possession by inmates.
Meanwhile, Thomas is one of seven indicted for shooting Arbrie in the head during a drive-by shooting Jan. 8, 2022, on Third Avenue, where she had joined others outside to pet horses. One of the horses also died in the shooting.
The members of the “Loyalty Over Everything” criminal street gang are also linked to the shooting of two other juveniles in the same neighborhood.
Greg Rickabaugh is the Jail Report contributor for The Augusta Press. Reach him at greg.rickabaugh@theaugustapress.com
