Anketell alleges Cousins Disclosed 'misleading info'

Damian Anketell, Democratic candidate for Essex County sheriff, on Tuesday filed two complaints that Sheriff Frank Cousins disclosed misleading information about injuries Anketell suffered as a corrections officer.

The complaints come a week before the two face each other in Tuesday's general election. Cousins, a Newburyport Republican, is seeking to be elected to his third term as sheriff.

Anketell said in an announcement sent to Patch.com on Tuesday that he filed the complaints with the state Attorney General and the State Ethics Commission. He asked both the AG and Ethics Commission to investigate.

In the complaints, Anketell alleged that Cousins violated state law last week when he told the Salem News "misleading information" about injuries he suffered after an inmate attack in 2002.

The disclosure of personnel information was illegal, according to Anketell.

"Smearing an injured worker's reputation violates the public trust," Anketell said in the statement. "Like the inmates he houses, he is not above the law."