Deputy in wheelchair case resigns

TAMPA -- Charlette Marshall-Jones, the Hillsborough deputy seen dumping a quadriplegic from his wheelchair, resigned today.

Marshall-Jones, 44, had been a detention deputy since 1986. Sheriff David Gee accepted her resignation. Marshall-Jones remains eligible for her pension through the Florida Retirement System, sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said.

Marshall-Jones turned herself in Saturday on a charge of abuse against a disabled person, a third-degree felony. She was captured by a jail surveillance camera on Jan. 29 thrusting 32-year-old Brian Sterner from his wheelchair as he was being booked into the Orient Road Jail.

The case has generated national outrage and prompted Gee to dismiss Marshall-Jones' actions as "inexcusable."

Here's the text of her resignation letter:

"It is with sincere regret and remorse that I now find it necessary to leave an organization and job that had for 22 years, become as much a fashion of a family member or body part as could be. Please be aware that it never was, nor never could be my intention to bring malicious harm or shame to anyone. That is because it is that I posses too much pride and integrity in what I do and who I am. But, in particular, to the individual, who has brought about such accusations to the contrary, I find it necessary to respectfully resign from employment with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

"I bid many sadness laden 'Good-bye's' and ENDLESS Thank-You's for any and all personal and emotional support offered to me by everyone effected.''

- Rebecca Catalanello, Times staff writer

Comments

[D]

As well she should have.

Will we ever get this woman's version?

[Stacey]

Why wasn't she fired??

[Stacey]

I'm pretty sure that the woman's version is on the video. No words are really necessary, are they?

Stacey, they gave her the option to resign. It was either resign or be fired. To protect her pension, she resigned.

[Concerned]

How nice that she will be able to live out her life on the tax payers money...and I don't mean in prison or jail as she belongs...she will be living at the taxpayers expense on her cushy pension. How many others has she done this to or others at the jail. Judging from how it appeared to be business as usual for all the other deputies and supervisors wondering around while it happened, it probably is a common thing. Only this time it was a reputable, educated person who knew to bring it to light. Unfortunately, if any others come to forward, those who are have been convicted of crimes and did jail/prison time will not get as much sympathy from the general public even though they too are humans and do not deserve to be treated as animals.

[Stevo]

She should not have had the option to resign, leaving her eligible to apply for other positions within the law enforcement community, collect retirement and pensions, etc. Being a disgrace in uniform she should be stripped of all entitlements, fired and banned from public service. Even as a crossing guard parents would have to be scared that she'll throw an unruly kid in front of a passing vehicle... She should consider herself lucky if she can get a job cleaning public toilettes, after she has completed her 5 year prison sentence.

[Kay]

Why do you think the Sheriff only put her on unpaid leave? He gave her ample time to resign and still be elgible to recieve her pension. She made the Sheriff's Dept look bad but they still stick together. The insurances companies will pay for the law suit. Insurance Companies paid with Tax payer money...she will recieve her pension...the abuse will go on. Who pays for it all? The citizens of course.

[Tired of Criminals]

Why was this person in jail? Someone forgot that part. Animals don't deserve this treatment either, Concerned!

What a strange and cofusing letter. Think there might be a prison guard opening in Abu Ghraib for her? She seems qualified by the looks of the video.

[opie]

Kay, maybe you should know the answers before you open your yap. Do you not think for a second that, as soon as the Sheriff found out about this incident and viewed the video, that his gut told him to fire this troll? What you obviously are unaware of is the Police Officer's Bill of Rights (and, no, I'm not a police officer). This pretty much ensures that a thorough investigation has to occur BEFORE an officer may be terminated (yes, feel free to read that as TIME delay). That's not up to the Sheriff, the Chief of Police, the Head of Command for FHP, etc. Also, you should know that there is NO insurance company for HCSO, so the Sheriff's department foots the bill for any lawsuit claim. I'll concede though, you're ultimately correct that the taxpayers fund it since it comes out of the Hillsborough County budget.

Now, call 911 so you may seek medical attention to have your head pulled out of your hizarse...THIS AIN'T A CASE OF 'STICKING' TOGETHER!!!

[ricco]

BOO HOO ! This was tactical move to protect her pension....???Fine. but collect your pension from a jail cell for a couple years then go about your merry way.
2nd Career calling "DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER" WANTS TO START A NEW SHOW AND SHE COULD BE ON THE TEAM CATCHING BAIL JUMPERS.....auditions in Hollywood.

[Dr_Dug]

What a crock. She still won't accept responsibility for her crime. Did you notice her remarks? "But, In particular, to the individual, who has brought about such accusations to the contrary, I find it necessary to respectfully resign.." Of course as I write this, the news breaks a story about another beating by guards at the Hillsborough. And then they charged the person they beat with assault: until the video came out. WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON OVER THERE? Innocent till beaten by the cops? Shut the jail down..its an epidemic. And why the heck are we going to pay a pension to a convicted Felon?

This woman's attorney was interviewed on one of the morning national news shows and made a complete fool of himself. He even went as far as to say the show was the first time he had seen the tape of his client dumping the guy to the floor, he described it " falling" out of the chair.

Criminals really hate cops in jail - have a great time paying the price for your hatred and abuse.

[Dr_Dug]

Opie..your an jackass!! Maybe you should visit the jail or pay the money. Either way, working under color doesn't mean balck guard beats helpless whiteman! So don't call 911, it won't help. Just put your dumb--s under the rock you came from and tell Hitler hello. And don't pop up again..cause we know your worthless!!

[John]

She shouldn't received the pension because she committed a crime while on duty.

[opie]

Wow Dr_Dug, maybe you should prescribe yourself a few Xanax, maybe some Paxil, Lexapro...pretty much anything to take it down a couple levels. Why don't you re-read my post, stupid. Then pontificate on exactly WHERE I even remotely mentioned anything about race?

You may want to lay off the opiates though; they're really effecting you ability to string together a coherent thought. Not so sure about the effect it's having on your grammar though, my guess is it's that 3rd grade education of yours coming to light.

Misconduct should NOT be rewarded (i.e. with a pension). Also, I don't believe you can collect a state pension once convicted of a felony, let alone collect on the inside.

[DennyCrane]

Unfortunately, she probably has no previous charges, is a 22yr veteran, and probably never really been in trouble with the agency before. I bet her attorney even parades her HR file during the case which may show a commendation or award here and there...you gotta expect it after 22 years, right? Soooo, I'm thinking with that said, he at least gets to plea her to misdemeanor level and she goes home with a little community service, probation...and her pension.

No, I don't think it's right at all, but unless Ober's office grows some balls, the highlight of her criminal case will be evening footage of her going HOME from the courthouse.

[Smokey Bojangles]

She should have been fired for using 'effected' when the correct word was 'affected.'

[Steve]

As someone who spent an unfortunate couple of days in Orient Road Jail several years ago, I found a mix of guards during my stay. Some were really great people, obviously working in sometimes difficult situations, but professional, smart, and courteous.

Other guards obviously took great delight in humiliating people.

If the first kind could somehow get rid of the second, this wouldn't be an issue.

[Noah Webster]

Take a trip to dictionary.com, Smokey, and learn the difference. Oh, and lay off the glass pipe you poor loser.

illiterate too! what a loser

Hey, lay off ol' poor Smokey. He's after all a Florida graduate or close to it.

[tami]

D*mn shame, guess its okay for all cops to do this?? Halloooo whats the world coming too??......Must be nice to collect and still have a felony, hopefully she still will get jail time, this is why cops get a bad name. My kids even think cops are back stabbers, not there for us anymore to protect us, they all hurt us.Watching the "cops" show last night and how rough they were on a man for riding a bike cos he was parking his bike near a dumpster and sitting there and the clerk in the store called the cops cos she didnt like him standing there, and they threw his a** down so hard and 2 other cops on top of him to hand cuff him FOR NO REASON?? They get off on that sh*t i guess, go to jail and see what else you can get off on. Citizens dont need harsh treament cos cops wear a badge, i wear a necklace does that mean im in control?.......She should have been FIRED, but her day will come im sure to many complaints on her

[Roscoe P Coltrain]

Tami, tami, tami...the punk had a knife, that's the part of the show you conveniently forgot to post here. Do your kids a favor and learn something about telling the truth.

[I PTTTY THE FOOL]

It is typical black mentality. Accept no responsibility for what they did and blame someone or something else. I am sure it is a matter of time before she says she was forced to retire because she is black. Just wait and see.

[Super angry guy]

And now taxpayers will reward this absurd behavior with a lifetime pension. Hello Pension Givers! Time to wake up and smell the roses! A guaranteed pension for despicable behavior will for sure keep the system doing more of the same!forever, and ever and............
For 35 years I taught kids about "Officer Friendly". What a mistake. I wish I had that to do over again so I could inform students how the system really works!
That some readers could understand and condone such hateful behavior is totally mind boggling!

The only thing I hold out hope for is that, now that Crist has gotten elected and gone turncoat on law enforcement, and Ober is up for re-election, just MAYBE they won't be so quick to cut a plea deal here. Let's all hope she's popped for the felony.

Kudos to Gee for doing the right thing!

[JB]

My take is that GEE said she could resign or she would be fired.

I truly believe this was a HATE Race Crime. She is the worst kind of human being for what she did.

The sad part is she gets to keep her pension. She should give that to the young man she dumped out of the wheel Chair

[Dr. House]

What I'm really confused about, with all of the media attention, appearances on networks, his attorney speaking out so viciferously, is that absolutely NOTHING has been mentioned about any injuries. Now don't go and bash me, the detention deputy needs to be dropped on her head and bounced out of there. What she did was beyond wrong and she'll hopefully pay dearly for that...and I'd guess the Sheriff will have to pay something to this guy, but was he injured in this?

I think there was a report where they thought there could have been some broken ribs, but that wasn't the case.

Nobody has mentioned anything about whether or not he's been to a doctor, what injuries he sustained, how his treatment is progressing, etc. Why is this being pushed under the rug?

And I don't wanna hear from a LPN about a HIPPA violation...the attorney who filed the federal case today has no problem parading her alleged medical issues through the media.

PS...check out the new one's DOC history...Marcella Alonso. Interesting that she's did a 6yr haul on a BatLeo, obviously has some authority issues.

http://www.dc.state.fl.us/AppCommon/searchall.asp?Action=Find&SexOffOnly=0

[melissa]

Now if the tables were turned and the man in the wheelchair was black & the guard white... OMG.. WATCHOUT! I'm sure there would be riots all over the place if that guard were not sitting in a jail cell!! Tell me i'm wrong... yeah, EXACTLY... because i'm not! Where is good old Al Sharptin when we need him....PLEASE!!! HA

[melissa]

Oh and for all the po po ... guards,whatever you want to call them. All the ones that looked on and laughed or looked away as they saw the abuse occur, fire their a-- as well!!
They are guilty as well for letting such actions take place and ignoring it or condoning it which is more likely!

These cops want respect, yet they do the things we see on T.V. like this almost on a weekely basis. You want it you need show some respect towards others! Not walk around with this chip on your shoulders as if your s--- dosen't stink. Over the tudes by the men in blue!

I worked with this deputy for over a year and many of my co-workers have worked a lot more years with her. She was an excellent, compassionate, professional deputy. What you don't see is what the inmate was saying and what she had been told by the arresting officers. True it was wrong for her to do what she did but remember there are two sides to every story.
As for receiving her pension, she earned that for the previous 22 years and no one should loose what they earned while performing a job satisfactorily; not a deputy, teacher, or any one else who is lucky enough to be in a career where there is a pension plan.
Oh why is everyone so down on Ms. Jones - what about those seven people who beat that young teenager to death and were found innocent. That truly is an injustice. I don't support Charlotte for her actions but who in their life has not made a poor judgement call at sometime in their life and regretted it - probably no one. Remember only God is perfect. Ms. Jones made a mistake but the inmate is not 100% innocent; when the truth comes about his language and behaviors maybe a few on you will have a little more empathy for the deputies that take care of these criminals.

[PFG]

Well you know what 8:23 when you are oathed in as an officer, guard at the jail etc... Rule number one is you have to learn to deal with people! Most that go to jail may not be so nice,I would have to assume. That still gives her no EXCUSE to throw a man out of his wheelchair even if he told her to f-- off! So you can take your "poor Ms. Jones" sob story somewhere else!

I think society in general is over the antics and abuse that many cops have been and do display! As they wear that badge they are so proud of! Oh I guess that cop that "man handled" the lady a few mos back that was speeding to get to the hosp to see her father that was having a heart attack was ok to, right? You'll have each other's back right or wrong corrupt as alot of you are!

Sorry but I do not feel sorry for Ms. Brown she is wrong in soooo many ways!And she deserves and any other officer of the law that treats people in this manner to be fired,fined,sued ..etc..

And as far as your comment- "maybe a few on you will have a little more empathy for the deputies that take care of these criminals". You took the job if you can't handle it find a job more suitable for you!

[tami]

Roscoe, my kids wanst watching the show and they seen how cops are, everywhere. Not all are bad but sure seems like it boiling to it

[myrna]

she still should have been fired on the spot. myrna

[Mimi]

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT HE SAID OR DIDN'T SAY!What part of that don't some of you get.There is nothing in police training that says its ok to kick butt if the perp is verbally abusive.What wonderland are some of you excusers in with your ...there are two sides to the story...slop.IT DOESN'T MATTER!I can just imagine the inside story being embroidered by the county "in" crowd!Double DUH!

[Lakeisha]

You can use zabasearch.com to look this woman up and let her know how you feel. All you have to do is type in her name.

[LaRonDra Jackson-Johnson]

She be innocent! Yall be trying to convicts her cuz she be afrikan-american. OOOO-Kaaaaay!

[kay]

I dont think this is a race issue, and i dont think she will be innocent..........No what what color you are you shouldnt dump any person out of a wheelchair!!!

[Kim]

A deal has been made. She goes and gets a misdeamer conviction and keeps her pension etc and she keeps her mouth shut. I will be shocked if she gets a felony. If she does she will loose her pension. A deal has been made. Dee needs to retire also. This is his his philosphy. It comes from the top down. NOw there is another case. Just how many are there? It must have been know for the attorneys are speaking out point blank. The County needs to look in to this. That means now.

[john]

She committed a crime, turned herself in and should face charges from the DA. If they have the guts to go after then all will be good in Tampa. Again, no apology from her....unbelievable!

[john]

Hmmmm, I wonder if the there would have been more outrage if for instance it was a "handicapped minority" who was shoved out of their wheel chair by a "white" deputy? I'd bet my check Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and the NACCP would be in Tampa so fast it would make your head spin.

[Roger]

Had the victims of these vicious attacks been black,the self ordained "Rev" Al Sharpton and his band of traveling bufoons would have the jail, Sheriff's office, and County Commission's office surrounded with protestors. Here is a guy that professes to be an equal rights activist for all. Where are you Rev.? Why nothing from you ? Sharpton is, and always has been a phoney. His only interest is promoting himself. He has lived off the earnings of others all his life. He has no church, no job, and is functionally illiterate. Why not protest on behalf of these people you fat B------ ?

[Amy]

I am glad that the deputy resigned. As a future special education teacher I am appalled that another human being can treat someone with this much disrespect. There is probably another side to this story then what Brian said, but no matter what happened no person deserves to be treated that way. I hope that this story makes people think twice before they "try to see if someone is a quadriplegic."

[Roger]

This deputy, even in her resignation, displays the defiance and arrogance of her personality. She makes reference to the VICTIM allegation, the reason for her resignation, blaming him! If this low-life believes she is innocent, why doesn't she stay on and defend herself? What a disgrace to humanity this societal misfit is !

[Charlie]

Why didn't somebody just call the cops?