|
Two Fired in Wake of Abuse
Allegations
April 15, 2007
There is a video tape of the fight
between the teenager and the guard but the Department of Juvenile
Justice has not released it yet. The altercation happened at the
Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys in Marianna, Florida.
DJJ Secretary Walt McNeil said
guard Alvin Speights choked 18-year-old Justin Caldwell and threw
him to floor. The victim alleges he bumped his head on a table and
was knocked unconscious.
"The department will not tolerate
any inappropriate, unprofessional or abusive actions toward youth in
our care," said McNeil.
Speights and Interim Superintendent
John Tallon both were fired in wake of the allegations. McNeil said
he's heard rumors of inappropriate conduct at the Dozier school.
"We believe their are indications
of systemic operational problems at Dozier that span the chain of
command from top to bottom, and we are acting decisively to change
the culture of this institution," added McNeil.
This is one of several altercations
between a guard and a resident in a Florida juvenile correctional
facility. In January of 2006 the beating of 14-year-old Martin Lee
Anderson made national headlines. Surveillance video showed guards
at the Bay County Boot Camp restraining Anderson. Anderson died one
day later.
In March staff members at the
Apalachicola Forest Youth Camp were put on leave for injuring two
residents.
"When the safety and security of
any of our youth at any of our facilities is compromised for any
reason, we will act swiftly and decisively," said McNeil.
There were several changes made to
the daily operations of the Dozier school. Rex Uberman, DJJ
Assistant Secretary of Residential Services will supervise daily
operations of the facility, Isaac Williams, Community Trust CEO,
will serve as acting superintendent and Community Trust will oversee
daily operations at Dozier.
Story posted Apr. 15th 2007
04:59:53 PM EST.
http://www.abc7newstogo.com/wap/news/text.jsp?sid=105&nid=102847&cid=106&scid=-1&title=
|
