BATTLE CREEK, MI (WNWN/WTVB) – Calhoun County Sheriff’s Department Corrections Officer Sergeant Jeffrey Worden resigned during a termination hearing last Thursday after an investigation into use of force against an inmate at the Calhoun County jail.
The Calhoun County Prosecutors Office has also filed a misdemeanor charge of assault and battery against Worden following an investigation.
The Sheriff’s Department says the incident took place on September 6 when inmate Keir Watson was in a 5-point restraint chair and being monitored by staff after signals of self-harm. At some point, Watson was able to get out of the left-arm restraint and unsecure the left shoulder strap. Worden and another corrections officer entered the cell.
Worden tried to get Watson to comply and secure him in the chair. There was an ongoing struggle, including the chair tipping over. When Worden picked up the chair, Watson spit in Worden’s face. At that time, Worden struck Watson, who continued to spit at Worden. The Sheriff’s Office say what Worden did is distinctly against Calhoun County Jail policies.
The Sheriff’s Office made a request to the Michigan Sheriff’s Association to assign outside investigators who specialize in corrections type investigations.
Watson was not injured during the incident. He was being held on a parole detainer authorized by the department of corrections and has since been returned to DOC. Watson was also under investigation for another incident in the Calhoun County Jail involving malicious destruction of property and spitting at another corrections staff member. This incident was separate from the incident involving Worden.
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