Sheriff's Corporal Fired For Covering Up Abuse Of Jail Inmate

CLEARWATER, FL— A Pinellas County sheriff's detention corporal was fired Monday for failing to intervene when a detention sergeant punched and slapped a jail inmate in November and then lying about the incident to sheriff's investigators.

After investigating the incident at the Pinellas County Jail, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office Professional Standards Bureau concluded that Jamason Jessie, 46, a 22-year sheriff's employee, should be fired for standing by while Sgt. Patrick Knight, 51, slapped punched and pulled the hair of inmate Terrell Johnson, 41.

See related story: Sheriff's Sergeant Accused Of Punching, Slapping Jail Inmate

According to the investigation, on Nov. 19 Johnson became disruptive during a medical screening and was handcuffed and placed in a single cell at the jail to calm down.

Johnson began kicking at the cell door. Investigators said Knight and Jessie entered the cell and Knight "pushed, slapped, punched and grabbed Johnson's hair without provocation or justification."

Investigators said Knight lied about what happened and Jessie backed up his story, but later recanted.

Knight was fired and charged with one count of battery and one count of official misconduct.

Three months later, Jessie has been fired as well.

The administrative investigation showed that Jessie violated protocol by leaving Johnson alone in the holding cell with a head injury, lied to his supervisors when asked if Knight struck Johnson and lied about having a phone conversation with Knight about what occurred.