Three Richmond County sheriff’s deputies are in jail after one of them allegedly assaulted an inmate while the other two did nothing to stop it at the Charles B. Webster Detention Center.
On Tuesday, while on duty, Deputy Jailer Michael Rivera had a verbal altercation with an inmate. He then threatened “harm to the inmate and went to the cellblock, chased the inmate around the dayroom striking the inmate with a writing pen while swinging at the inmate to hit him,” according to a news release from the Richmond County Sherriff’s office.
Also arrested were Deputy Jailer Eric Donald and Deputy Arnold Verge.
They “were present when Deputy Jailer Rivera made the threat and they failed to act to prevent the assault on the inmate,” the release said.
Rivera was arrested and charged with Aggravated Assault, Terroristic Threats and Acts, and Violation of Oath of Office by Public Officer. Donald and Verge were both arrested and charged with Violation of Oath of Office by Public Officer.
Rivera has been employed with the sheriff’s office since July 9, 2022; Donald has been employed with the office since Nov. 13, 2021. Rivera and Donald were assigned to the Charles B. Webster Detention Center. Verge, who was assigned to road patrol, had been employed since Dec. 30, 2017.
The three were terminated Friday and are currently being held at the Charles B. Webster Detention Center.
