Susan Jacobson Sentinel Staff Writer
August 20, 2008
No criminal charges will be filed against several guards accused of allowing a "fight club" in which Orange County Jail inmates were pitted against each other, at least once along racial lines.
An Orange sheriff's investigation concluded that nothing criminal happened during a fight at the jail May 18.
Three guards will remain on duty, in jobs away from inmates, until an internal investigation is completed. A fourth resigned this month.
The sheriff's investigation found that corrections officer Samuel Cruz let two inmates involved in the fight out of their cells.
But investigators said the behavior was likely a policy violation, not a criminal act.
Cruz denied to investigators that he let inmates out of their cells to fight.
No battery charges can be filed against either inmate because the men voluntarily fought each other, the Sheriff's Office said.
Witnesses told investigators that Hispanic inmates had accused black inmate Christopher Redding, now 40, of stealing food from a Hispanic prisoner. Some of the Hispanic inmates wanted Redding to fight in the recreation yard, so he went there with other black inmates, the report states.
Cruz is said to have told them "there would be no riot on this floor" and that the matter would be settled after the 10:30 p.m. lockdown, according to the report.
Redding and Anthony Hobdy-Franco, 27, were fighting when, witnesses said, Cruz held Redding by the arms or hair, allowing Hobdy-Franco to hit him in the face.
Both inmates suffered minor bruises and scrapes on their legs, arms and faces. Redding also had a cut lip, he said.
Cruz broke up the fight when someone yelled that a nurse was on her way, the report says.
Two other corrections officers are accused of watching but not interfering. Investigators faulted all three for not writing a report or notifying their supervisor.
Accusations that guards sanctioned two other fights earlier this year between two other inmates were not substantiated.
Hobdy-Franco was jailed on a carjacking charge, and Redding had been arrested on suspicion of driving with a revoked license as a habitual offender.
Susan Jacobson can be reached at sjacobson@orlandosentinel.com or 407-540-5981.
August 20, 2008
No criminal charges will be filed against several guards accused of allowing a "fight club" in which Orange County Jail inmates were pitted against each other, at least once along racial lines.
An Orange sheriff's investigation concluded that nothing criminal happened during a fight at the jail May 18.
Three guards will remain on duty, in jobs away from inmates, until an internal investigation is completed. A fourth resigned this month.
The sheriff's investigation found that corrections officer Samuel Cruz let two inmates involved in the fight out of their cells.
But investigators said the behavior was likely a policy violation, not a criminal act.
Cruz denied to investigators that he let inmates out of their cells to fight.
No battery charges can be filed against either inmate because the men voluntarily fought each other, the Sheriff's Office said.
Witnesses told investigators that Hispanic inmates had accused black inmate Christopher Redding, now 40, of stealing food from a Hispanic prisoner. Some of the Hispanic inmates wanted Redding to fight in the recreation yard, so he went there with other black inmates, the report states.
Cruz is said to have told them "there would be no riot on this floor" and that the matter would be settled after the 10:30 p.m. lockdown, according to the report.
Redding and Anthony Hobdy-Franco, 27, were fighting when, witnesses said, Cruz held Redding by the arms or hair, allowing Hobdy-Franco to hit him in the face.
Both inmates suffered minor bruises and scrapes on their legs, arms and faces. Redding also had a cut lip, he said.
Cruz broke up the fight when someone yelled that a nurse was on her way, the report says.
Two other corrections officers are accused of watching but not interfering. Investigators faulted all three for not writing a report or notifying their supervisor.
Accusations that guards sanctioned two other fights earlier this year between two other inmates were not substantiated.
Hobdy-Franco was jailed on a carjacking charge, and Redding had been arrested on suspicion of driving with a revoked license as a habitual offender.
Susan Jacobson can be reached at sjacobson@orlandosentinel.com or 407-540-5981.
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