(Maricopa County, AZ) Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio today says his deputies arrested a detention officer who has been employed with the office for nearly six years, for assaulting an in-custody inmate.
Zackary James Anthony, 12/21/87, has worked for the Sheriff’s Office as a detention officer since November 2009. At the time of the incident, he was assigned to the psychiatric unit at the Lower Buckeye Jail where seriously mentally ill inmates are housed while awaiting trial.
According to the Sheriff, on August 8, 2015, an inmate in the psych unit apparently managed to obscure the view of the security camera in his cell, requiring rectification by officers.
After refusing to be handcuffed and removed from his cell, officers entered the cell to gain compliance from the inmate. That is when the assault occurred.
A video taken by another camera as well as interviews with responding officers provided the details related to the incident.
“At this time,” Arpaio says, “we have probable cause to arrest this officer for aggravated assault. The care and custody of inmates is a tough job, particularly in this unit, but that does not excuse inappropriate or potentially criminal behavior. The investigation will continue.”
The inmate, who cannot be identified per medical privacy laws, suffered a broken jaw and is being treated in a local hospital.
After the incident, the victim’s family posted bond and he was released from custody on 8/10/15.
(Photo credit: Fox10Phoenix)
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