Cops Getting Arrested

The four are accused of leaving a 17-year-old inmate, who later was convicted of felonious assault and aggravated burglary, in the recreation area with two of the overhead doors open during "extreme cold" temperatures for about two and a half hours Jan. 26.

"To deliberately expose him to below-freezing temperatures while barefoot, wearing the jail uniform and restrained to a chair can be described as nothing short of criminal," the NAACP news release said. "The outcome of this case demonstrates a systemic inability to discern what does and does not constitute inhumane treatment and spotlights an outrageous abuse of power and authority."

The four charged will make their initial appearances in Mansfield Municipal Court at 10 a.m. Thursday.

"I have a real question mark," local NAACP president Marcia Webb said. "It was a calculated action. I think it rises far above a misdemeanor charge."

Sheldon explained the process.

"It was a joint investigation by the sheriff's office and the FBI," Sheldon said. "The law director's office made the decisions (about charges)."

First Assistant Prosecutor Brent Robinson said the case was not presented to his office.

"There is no felony to charge them with," he said. "The sheriff knew, as well as we did, there was no felony offense.

"What would you charge them with? Felonious assault would need serious physical harm. Dereliction of duty is a misdemeanor."

Robinson said assault against a peace officer is a felony, but the same does not necessarily hold true for assaults against inmates.

"I still believe that there needs to be more stern action taken, so incidents like this aren't repeated," Webb said.