HENRY CO., Va. – UPDATE - Aug. 25
The Henry County Sheriff’s Office said an internal investigation has concluded into four deputies who were suspended following a use of force incident at the Henry County Adult Detention Center on July 7.
Virginia State Police conducted the investigation and determined that all four deputies violated multiple agency policies, authorities said.
We’re told all four deputies have had their employment with the Henry County Sheriff’s Office terminated, effective Aug. 25.
The sheriff’s office said the incident has been referred to a special prosecutor to determine what, if any, criminal charges are applicable.
ORIGINAL STORY
Four Henry County deputies have been suspended after a use of force incident at the Henry County Adult Detention Center.
The incident happened on July 1 after a man was arrested for drunk in public, Henry County Sheriff Wayne Davis said during a press conference Friday night.
Davis said after he was brought into the facility, he was uncooperative and refused to change into his jail uniform.
The situation then escalated, and Davis said Henry County deputies used force on the man. The man was injured, sent to SOVAH Health Martinsville for treatment, and has since been released.
After Davis was notified of the incident nearly five days later (July 6), he asked Virginia State Police to step in.
Four of the involved deputies were suspended without pay, pending investigation findings, the sheriff said. Their identities were not shared.
Davis said he made a promise of transparency when he was sworn in just a week ago.
“I made a commitment to this community to be transparent in our process. I also promised that I would hold accountable any deputy who failed the community’s trust,” Davis said.
Virginia State Police’s investigation into the use of force incident is ongoing. Davis said there is also an internal affairs investigation underway.
You can watch the full press conference below.