Two Macomb County corrections deputies face charges for crimes they allegedly committed in the county jail.
The Macomb County Sheriff’s Department says Deputy James Stanley faces two counts of assault and battery for two incidents involving uncooperative inmates being placed in restraint chairs.
Stanley allegedly injured one inmate’s nose after jamming his face into the chair. In another case, he allegedly tasered an inmate in the chest while he was being restrained. That’s against department policy.
The two incidents occurred last year. Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said that after investigators finished looking into the cases, they referred them to the Macomb County Prosecutor for charges.
Another former deputy allegedly had sexual contact with a female inmate, including “digital penetration on three separate dates.” Wickersham says investigators uncovered evidence corroborating the woman’s story. The deputy, whom the county is declining to name until he’s arraigned on Friday, is facing a fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct charge.
Wickersham says Stanley was placed on leave, while the other deputy is no longer with the department. The terms of his separation are unclear.
Wickersham says the two men “violated agency policy and their behavior is unacceptable.”
“It is highly unsettling to know that our staff members have acted criminally, tarnishing the reputation that our hard working men and women strive for every day,” Wickersham said in a written statement. “We will continue to work to the best of our abilities, stay transparent, and keep the trust of the citizens that we serve.”
The Macomb County Jail has come under scrutiny and criticism in recent years. 20 people have died in the jail since 2012. Some cases have drawn national attention, including a woman who was forced to give birth in her cell. Last October, a jail doctor was accused of trading sex with female inmates for cigarettes and candy. He also faces criminal charges.
