TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - A sheriff's deputy who was videotaped dumping a paralyzed man out of his wheelchair and onto a jailhouse floor has resigned, the sheriff's office announced Monday.

Charlette Marshall-Jones was accused of tipping Brian Sterner, 32, out of his wheelchair and charged with one count of felony abuse of a disabled person. If convicted, she could be imprisoned for up to five years.

Sterner was brought to the jail after being arrested on a warrant for a traffic violation. A videotape of the incident has been widely circulated.

Norman Cannella, a Tampa attorney who is representing Marshall-Jones, said she would offer her explanation for the incident if the case went to court. As for the charges, Cannella said he felt Hillsborough Sheriff David Gee was "rushing" in his investigation and that the charges seemed motivated by "emotion more than anything else."

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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Deputy seen dumping man from wheelchair faces felony charge
02/15/08

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - A deputy who was videotaped dumping a paralyzed man from a wheelchair onto a jailhouse floor now faces arrest.

Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee announced tonight that an arrest warrant has been issued for Charlette Marshall-Jones. The veteran deputy was seen tipping Brian Sterner out of his wheelchair during booking.

Gee says Marshall-Jones knows about the warrant, but he does not know when she will turn herself is. She faces a charge of abuse of a disabled person, a third-degree felony.

If convicted, she could be sent to prison for five years.

Sterner had been arrested January 29th on a warrant for a traffic charge. He had called for charges to be filed against Marshall-Jones.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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State opens review of man dumped from wheelchair
02/14/08

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Florida Attorney General's office is looking into whether the civil rights of a paralyzed man dumped onto a jailhouse floor were violated.

Surveillance video shows a veteran deputy tipping Brian Sterner out of his wheelchair onto the floor of the from the Orient Road Jail after his arrest Jan. 29 on a traffic warrant.

Attorney General Bill McCollum announced a review of the incident Thursday. If his office finds deputies violated Sterner's civil rights, it could sue on his behalf for up to $10,000 per infraction.

Four detention deputies have been suspended because of the incident.

Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee issued a formal apology to Sterner Wednesday. The 32-year-old says he would like to see criminal charges filed.


(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)