Deputy on Desk Duty After Slapping Inmate

**kellyhound** · #1 02-06-2011, 02:29 PM

Quote:

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. A Berkeley County deputy is on desk duty after investigators say he slapped a jail inmate who appeared to first spit in the officer's face.

44-year-old Thomas Howard Simmons of Moncks Corner had been charged with disorderly conduct last month.

A video released by the sheriff's department shows Cpl. Robert Thomas leaning down to talk to Simmons in the jail.

It shows Simmons appearing to spit at the officer, who then slapped him and hit him in the back of the head, holding him down for other officers to secure.

Thomas is on desk duty while authorities investigate. He joined the department in 2004 and received awards two years later for helping rescue two small children from drowning.

Faline · #2 02-06-2011, 04:18 PM

You see the cop flinch so i think he was spat at, can't blame him retaliating, who wouldn't.

dooshman · #3 02-06-2011, 04:30 PM

I think the cop was wrong. For one, he instigated the turd. All the cop had to do was to walk away, and let the dude talk to himself. It appears like he was drunk, anyway. Secondly, that was a pretty hard slap, and then he put kind of a choke hold on the dude.

AmericanIllusions · #4 02-07-2011, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kelly

You see the cop flinch so i think he was spat at, can't blame him retaliating, who wouldn't.

I agree with you but at the same time I feel it's unacceptable for an officer to behave in the manner he did leading up to the incident. He had both his arms up as if he's challenging the inmate. This isn't some street corner you know. I believe he's the type of officer that just wants conflict and that type of behavior only brings more disdain against law enforcement abroad. Can him.

Black Knight · #5 02-11-2011, 12:25 PM

Again AI we disagree. I agree that it was excessive but spitting on someone is technically assault and the officer had every right to throw a beating on him.

How would you feel if you were working and had children at home and someone spit in your eye or mouth not knowing if they had an infectious disease?

AmericanIllusions · #6 02-12-2011, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black Knight

Again AI we disagree. I agree that it was excessive but spitting on someone is technically assault and the officer had every right to throw a beating on him.

How would you feel if you were working and had children at home and someone spit in your eye or mouth not knowing if they had an infectious disease?

I agree he sure as shit needed his ass kicked if infact he did spit on the officer but that has nothing to do with what I said. Read the last part of what I said again.