Controversial video puts sheriff's office in question

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

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Brian Sterner is pushed out of his chair during a booking at the Orient Road Jail. (Slideshow)

TAMPA (Bay News 9) -- The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office is reacting to a video showing what appears to be a deputy apparently dumping a quadriplegic man from his chair then leaving him on the ground.

Four deputies are suspended in connection with the case that occurred January 29.

The incident occurred during a booking at the Orient Road Jail. Surveillance video appears to show deputy Charlotte Jones pushing 32-year-old Brian Sterner out his chair, then searching him while he's lying on the floor.

The video apparently shows several veteran deputies standing by watching, with one laughing.

Sterner said the deputy kept telling him to get up and he repeatedly told her he couldn't.

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"She certainly wasn't treating me like a human being," Sterner said. "When I saw that one deputy laugh that's when my blood started to boil. That's ridiculous to have that happen to me, then have somebody having a good time laughing about it."

The sheriff's office said it is ashamed of everything it saw on the DVD.

"Disgust," Chief Deputy Jose Docobo said. "I was appalled. Obviously the actions were indefensible at every level."

Docobo said Jones was suspended without pay. Three other senior deputies were suspended with pay. An internal investigation could also reveal why an a incident report was not submitted

"I can tell you based on what I saw anything short of dismissal will probably be inappropriate," Docobo said.

Sterner said he tried to convince the deputy he was physically unable to get out of the wheelchair.

Sterner's lawyer, John Travena, wants criminal charges of battery on a disabled person brought against the detention deputy.

"It's outrageous, and I have to say it probably occurs more frequently than we all believe, unfortunately," Travena said.

"The best I can do is offer him our apologies," Docobo said. "There's no excuse."

Sterner said that's a start, but he said it will take him a long time to forget what happened

The sheriff's office said it has standard operating procedures involving disabled inmates. There are about 30 inmates in wheelchairs. The sheriff's office said the internal investigation will be completed swiftly.

Sterner was being booked on charges of fleeing and attempting to elude a police officer, a 3rd-degree felony. He was released on $2,000 bail.

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