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Jail Inmate Complains Marshall-Jones Abused Her
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Published: February 20, 2008
Updated: 02/20/2008 05:20 pm
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TAMPA - An internal affairs investigation is looking into a Falkenburg Road Jail inmate's complaint that Charlette Marshall-Jones, the detention deputy who dumped a quadriplegic man from his wheelchair in January, also abused her last month.
Tammy Lynn Mojica
"She snatched me by the back of my head and slammed me into the wall," Tammy Lynn Mojica told the Tribune during a phone call today from jail.
On Jan. 29, a video camera recorded Marshall-Jones raising the back of a wheelchair, spilling quadriplegic Brian Sterner onto the floor. Sterner, 32, of Riverview, was booked at the jail on a warrant stemming from a traffic violation.
Marshall-Jones, 44, submitted her resignation Friday. She was arrested Saturday on a charge of abuse of a disabled person. She posted $3,500 bail and was released.
Mojica said Marshall-Jones abused her Jan. 10, when she was booked into Orient Road Jail. Mojica is now in Falkenburg.
"Any time we have an allegation of excessive use of force, it's going to be investigated," said Col. David Parrish, who runs Orient Road Jail. "There are two deputies who are involved in the incident – from my review of the report that was written."
Parrish would not discuss specifics and said video of Mojica being booked would not be made available since it is part of an active investigation.
Sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said an internal affairs investigation is ongoing, but she would not discuss the investigation or the incident.
Marshall-Jones' mother, Alma Marshall, declined to comment. Marshall-Jones' attorney, Norman Cannella, said he wasn't familiar with Mojica's complaint.
"I haven't got the slightest idea of what you speak about, not the slightest," he said. "I'm not going to bother to tell [Marshall-Jones] anything about this since I don't have the slightest idea what you're talking about."
The state attorney's office filed charges of cocaine possession, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia against Mojica following her Jan. 10 arrest, state attorney's spokeswoman Pam Bondi said.
A separate charge of introduction of contraband into a detention facility was considered but was deemed "duplicitous and not necessary to the prosecution of the case," Bondi said.
Separately, Mojica has the following charges pending against her: grand theft third-degree, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving with a suspended license, Bondi said.
Mojica, 34, of Wimauma, said she didn't want to discuss charges against her.
She said her incident involving Marshall-Jones began about 2:30 p.m. Jan. 10 when she initially appeared in the jail. Marshall-Jones believed Mojica had eaten something and took her into a bathroom to search her, Mojica said.
As soon as Mojica entered the bathroom, Marshall-Jones attacked her, she said.
"My right hand and wrist was bent backwards," Mojica said. "My thumb was dislocated. It's still bruised."
A Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office narrative last month of the incident says:
Marshall-Jones saw a 4-inch glass pipe near Mojica, then led Mojica to a restroom to strip search her. Mojica placed an unknown white powdery substance in her mouth and tried swallowing it, Marshall-Jones said.
Marshall-Jones tried extracting the substance with her bare right hand and called for help from Deputy Richard Sergi. Marshall-Jones removed her hand from Mojica's mouth, put on a blue rubber glove and tried again to remove the substance. Her attempts failed, but her hand and glove tested positive for cocaine.
During the process, Sergi stuck his thumb in Mojica's mouth "and was exposed to a mixture of blood and saliva," Marshall-Jones said in an incident report.
The report doesn't indicate if Mojica was injured or taken to a hospital.
Sterner's attorney, John Trevena, said he isn't surprised by Mojica's complaint against Marshall-Jones. Trevena's office has been "crushed" with calls from people claiming they have been abused by jail and prison guards locally and nationally.
Mojica said she was taken to a hospital before being booked about 7 p.m. that day and later spent about a week in a jail infirmary.
"I don't know why she was so manhandling," Mojica said. "I don't know why she abused me the way she did. I didn't get a battery on [a law enforcement officer charge], so that proves I didn't fight her. I shouldn't have had a busted lip. I shouldn't have been talked to like a dog."
A separate recently released video shows a detention deputy striking inmate Marcella Pourmoghani-Esfahani, the woman's lawyer said. Pourmoghani-Esfahani is shown in the video being struck by a deputy in the holding area of the jail on Nov. 11, 2006. Her attorney released the video Monday and said he has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the deputy, the sheriff and the county.
Steve Yerrid, a longtime plaintiff's lawyer in Hillsborough County, said he is not surprised that several people are making complaints against jail staff right now. When a negative incident, such as Sterner's drop from the wheelchair, gets high publicity, it's not uncommon for many similar complaints to arise.
"It's amazing to watch the publicity in terms of awareness," Yerrid said. "The public's right to know often results in a momentum. The momentum right now is that anyone who has ever had a problem with law enforcement and is contemplating action is going to take action right now."
That does not mean that the individual complaints or lawsuits will have a greater chance of a successful outcome.
"The bottom line is what is appropriate and what isn't appropriate has to happen on a case-by-case basis," Yerrid said. "Just because there is an avalanche of cases won't change the merit of each case."
By and large, Yerrid said, law enforcement acts appropriately. That doesn't mean there aren't exceptions, he said. Similarly, people do file frivolous lawsuits, over-blowing minor incidents, Yerrid said. That is not to say that some lawsuits have merit and represent significant abuses of power, he said.
In the wheelchair incident, Sheriff David Gee almost immediately condemned the deputy's actions. Yerrid said Gee's comments are commendable.
"That's what you want to have," he said, "not absolute blanket denial every time."
The fact that Gee admitted sheriff's office responsibility for Sterner's complaint also gives weight to Gee's integrity when he denies abuse in other complaints about his deputies, Yerrid said.
Reporter Thomas W. Krause contributed to this report. Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at jpoltilove@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7691.
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( DarthRandall ) on February 20, 2008 at 4:56 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by ( scottfwtx ) on February 20, 2008 at 5:06 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Well said Darth.
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Posted by ( DanPalmer ) on February 20, 2008 at 5:18 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I have been on tours with the officers at facilities when the jail officers didn't know I was there. Each and every time, people were asked cordially to comply with orders. When they wouldn't, they were treated like the jerks they are!
I don't want more tax dollars being spent on "sensitivity training" for officers...When you're a criminal, you get treated with respect only when you give it! Does that sound unfair or unjust?
"Open your mouth and spit out the white powder or you'll likely get a fat lip when we try to retrieve it!" DUH!
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Posted by ( voxpopuli ) on February 20, 2008 at 5:27 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Well, if ANYONE owes law enforcement LARGE, it's THIS guy and EVERYONE KNOWS IT:
The fact that Gee admitted sheriff's office responsibility for Sterner's complaint also gives weight to Gee's integrity when he denies abuse in other complaints about his deputies, Yerrid said.
Yeah. Good try, Yerrid and Gee. LOL
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Posted by ( voxpopuli ) on February 20, 2008 at 5:30 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
DanPalmer, Now I can only think of a FEW reasons you'd be on a 'tour'. LOL
Not to be mean but did the sheriff and the FBI and TPD and the Tampa Fire 'rescue' make ALL YALL register to comment over here?
Cause Ricky Baker tries the same thing over to the st pete times and people SEE RIGHT THROUGH IT.
Every time.
Yall lost and you're gonna lose SOME MORE.
Deal with it.
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Posted by ( steves542 ) on February 20, 2008 at 5:37 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
To bad her face got so beat up. I'd sue to if they did that to my face.
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Posted by ( Camm ) on February 20, 2008 at 5:59 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Voxpopuli, there are many tours every day at the jail. If you would like one, just call and request one. You would be suprised how many people come in and get tours. And,no,nobody 'forced' us to come here and register to comment. Maybe you should come in for a tour so you can see how it really is. Then you would have seen the man today who chose to smear his feces all over booking. Then the Deputies had to go in and handle him, in a professional manner and get him processed. But you know what? Nobody wants the video of that, do they? There's nobody to praise them for that! NO, you'll just say, "well, they chose that job, not me." You're right, they did, but they choose to do a tough job that obviously you can't and won't do for frozen wages, so get off your high horse and given them a break. Every criminal drunk driver and dope dealer who didn't like the way they were treated suddenly thinks they can make a complaint about the way they were treated because one Deputy makes a lapse in judgment? Please. Be glad these losers are off the street and not breaking into your house or driving into your car and killing your innocent children. I challenge you to come in for a tour and visit the real jail.
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Posted by ( Camm ) on February 20, 2008 at 6:04 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
steves542, wouldn't you be even more upset, if after one of her NUMEROUS DUI's, one of your loved ones faces looked like that at the morgue? And she's still walking around and driving around. What is wrong with THAT picture.
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Posted by ( jeda ) on February 20, 2008 at 6:08 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Did you watch the new video,a woman was pulled from her hair,and beated up by a police officer,and then,other popos came and bit her too?
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Posted by ( bm1976 ) on February 20, 2008 at 6:23 p.m.
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Posted by ( Camm ) on February 20, 2008 at 6:24 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Yes Jeda, that video is 1.5 years old. That deputy has been cleard 3 times by IA. Notice, she didn't start complaining until she thought she might get paid$$ That woman has numerous DUI's and should listen when spoken to. Her shirt and shoulder were grabbed in an effort to get her to stand up and let go of the bench chair.If she would have stood when told to, she wouldn't be taken to the ground, nor would her hair have gotten in the way.And then she wrapped her arms around the Deputys legs.You didn't see that in the video? I didn't think so. Next time watch it at real time video, not sped up like the press would like you to see it. People see what they want to see. Of course, we could just let those people continue to drive around and not arrest them and hope they dont kill our families, how about that? That woman belongs UNDER the prison with the amound of DUI's she has. Our society really has their priorities messed up!!And nobody bit her.
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Posted by ( Camm ) on February 20, 2008 at 6:31 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
bm1976, the HCSO has almost 2000 "police" so I'm sure when you say almost all are jerks, you couldn't have met almost all of them. As for your arrest, you realize that since you had a warrant, it isn't necessary to read you your rights, don't you? I'm thinking that if you had your license taken care of, which took months to get suspended, that wouldn't have happened. Don't blame the police for something that was entirely your fault. I'm sorry that happened to you, but again, the police are blamed for something that was entirely YOUR fault to begin with.
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Posted by ( dobefan ) on February 20, 2008 at 6:38 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Camm...thats the problem with most of the people who get arrested. They don't take responsibility for their own actions. Its always everyone else's fault. They need to look in the mirror at the problem and stay out of jail.
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Posted by ( voxpopuli ) on February 20, 2008 at 7:07 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
wow, camm is a one-man or woman defense team.
You know why yall are able to be so confident? (and I do NOT believe that about feces, SHOW ME and thank you for your polite rebuttal I just don't believe parts of it)
Anyway, yall are able to be SO CONFIDENT because, while the average person sits there for HOURS AND DAYS your family members (IF they GET arrested AND a certain group of folks in south tampa whose names are NOT on the website though the tampa trib reports them as having sentences CONES)waltz in and out with an hour or two and bond already posted so 'they don't have to go through that'.
AND, all of that fear factor stuff? No thanks. I'm not a believer.
Law enforcement has tried to turn citizen against citizen with MADD and other groups.
Who's behind MADD? The republicans.
What is GEE?
What is the police chief?
How many of yall are masons or scientologists?
GO ahead and tell me but I already know.
Maybe I'll just mosey on out there for one of those tours and thank you for the information.
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Posted by ( DMBFAN68 ) on February 20, 2008 at 7:12 p.m.
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Posted by ( jalo74 ) on February 20, 2008 at 7:14 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
These are just more examples of these criminals trying to CASH $$ in. If they didn't do the crime to begin with, then they wouldn't be in the jail. All you people that HATE the police, will be the first ones to call them when you have a problem. None of you realize what these deputies deal with on a daily basis (ie.. Murderers, rapists, crazy people, druggies and drunks) They do this everyday to keep our world a safer place. If sometimes they overreact a little, maybe it's because they're trying to keep these inmates from hurting themselves and others.
If MS. MOJICA wouldn't have shoved COCAINE in her mouth, she probably wouldn't have had any issues with Ms.
Marshall-jones. Maybe all you haters should be commending that deputy for getting the drugs OUT of her mouth. Oh no, then she would have overdosed and you would have criticized the deputy for letting that happen. Seems to me that the law enforcement just can't win.
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Posted by ( DMBFAN68 ) on February 20, 2008 at 7:29 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Way to go jaylo74. Finally, someone else with some intelligence & common sence is posting.
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Posted by ( signit4bes ) on February 20, 2008 at 7:40 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I'd say she's suffering from self-abuse more than anything.
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Posted by ( bleuzman ) on February 20, 2008 at 8:10 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Gee this beauty queen looks like a model inmate. Maybe when she was younger someone should have "snatched her ballheaded" as my granny used to say and she wouldn't be in the lock up costing taxpayers money. When did commiting crimes entitle anyone to being treated like anybody. Maybe if we made jail/prison so miserably intolerable (chaingangs,hard labor etc) all of these lazy slugs would quit commiting crimes.
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Posted by ( dobefan ) on February 20, 2008 at 8:42 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
pyledriver51...booking is only one place that some disgusting things occur. Yes, feces is smeared on cell walls and thrown at detention deputies. One time, a female prisoner being transported to jail in the back of a squad car decided it would be a fun thing to smear menstrual blood on a deputy's jacket that was in the back seat. So if you think those things don't happen, think again.
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Posted by ( DMBFAN68 ) on February 20, 2008 at 8:44 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
pyledriver51, The smearing of feces does occur. Maybe not daily, but it happens. People with mental issues come through booking all the time. Spitting occurs also. If this behavior is suspected they will be placed in a holding area and that is usually where it can occur. Not sure there are many who would want to enter that area to handle such an inmate. The deputies don't get paid nearly enough for such situations.
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Posted by ( bm1976 ) on February 20, 2008 at 8:58 p.m.
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Posted by ( JenJen ) on February 20, 2008 at 9:03 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I work at a local hospital where HCSOs bring in the inmates that are "sick" before being booked. The feces story is most likely true, as we had a fine up standing citizen under arrest at our facility that not only slung feces around our ER, but spit and urinated on the nurse, ER doc as well as the 2 sheriff officers.
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Posted by ( bm1976 ) on February 20, 2008 at 9:03 p.m.
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Posted by ( dobefan ) on February 20, 2008 at 9:35 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
pyledriver51...your moniker suggests you are a fan of hemorroid pushing. Hmmm...thats a whole other ball game!
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Posted by ( Camm ) on February 20, 2008 at 9:43 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Well Vox, that is exactly what I'm saying... the press doesn't request the video of the feces smearing, so of course you won't see that. You think that didn't happen? You think their gonna show you anything resembling the real work they do? Are you kidding? Do a public request of todays video. If you will look at these people's "claims" they are from three different years, 2008, 2007 and 2006. It's not a widespread problem of abuse as the press would like to think. The public should use common sense and analyze each case for what it is. If anything, the deputies saved this skanks life because had she swallowed all that dope she would have been worrying about more than a sore thumb!! And as I stated would happen in my post did happen, somebody said the infamous words "those deputies signed up to work there", its their job (thanks bm1976)Perhaps you too would like a tour?
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Posted by ( jalo74 ) on February 20, 2008 at 9:47 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
So BM....now your saying that you deserve better treatment than someone arrested for murder, rape, etc. Gee...aren't they all innocent until proven guilty? Bottom line is they all have committed a crime to get there, some more serious than others. There's lots of people in the jails that get in squabbles with officers and DON'T get charged with Battery on a LEO so that doesn't even make sense. That GIRL has a bandage on her arm because she had cocaine, drug paraphernalia, ecstasy and a grand theft, took those drugs into the jail and shoved them in her mouth. Yeah, those people signed up to work there, so why don't people just shut-up and let them do their job.
Oh and by the way, I can tell by your attitude how COOPERATIVE you probably were when the police showed up to your house. Grow up and take some responsibility for you actions.
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Posted by ( Camm ) on February 20, 2008 at 9:53 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Again BM1976 you are inferring that you have met and dealt with "most" cops to know that they are all getting a testosterone high. You knew your license was suspended and people with warrants in Hillsborough County can make arrangements to turn themselves in at their convenience to avoid getting arrested at home in front of their children. If it was a snafu between you and the DMV that is a problem with them and you not the policeman that arrested you. He was treating you like any other criminal. He doesnt know you. Do you not remember Hank Earl Carr? He seemed pretty nice until he killed 3 cops and until then he was a grieving parent. That is why your policeman treats all traffic violators, murderers and rapists all the same. Again, I'm sorry your children had to see you go to jail.
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Posted by ( bm1976 ) on February 20, 2008 at 10:11 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I called as soon as I got the little green paper to ask wtf it was all about. I then found out about the self arrest program and had a bail bonds meeting me there in the morning as I again was alone with my children. And the guy knew that I had called to find out where it was and thought it would be an easy arrest for his lil tuff self I guess. He was there within 3-4 hours. I think he should be busting real bad guys not me or at least waited till that night or the next day to see if I turned myself in.. And don't be sorry because my kids didn't see me go to jail I immediatley sat down in my chair outside because I didn't let them in my house and I hid the cuffs with my long skirt and didnt speak one word to the officer because he would have found a reason to man handle me agian. Luckily my kids didn't come outside and my mother in law showed up in time.
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Posted by ( bm1976 ) on February 20, 2008 at 10:12 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
All I was worried about were my kids and he knew that! He didn't give a sh*t about my kids.
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Posted by ( lolafalala ) on February 20, 2008 at 10:14 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Another crackhead just looking to ca$h in..
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Posted by ( dobefan ) on February 20, 2008 at 10:37 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I don't match wits with morons. Its a waste of my time and intelligence. I am proud of what I do and can't be humiliated by the likes of you.
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Posted by ( jalo74 ) on February 20, 2008 at 11:43 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Pyledriver...don't you have anything better to do than get on here and make fun of people's monikers? What are you in Kindergarten? Why don't you get back to discussing...uh, the topic?
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Posted by ( Vulcanized ) on February 21, 2008 at noon
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Posted by ( Vulcanized ) on February 21, 2008 at 12:01 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
PS - If there are, they might want to take up another sport...this one is full contact!
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Posted by ( y_ask_y ) on February 21, 2008 at 5:55 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
its pretty disgusting when the jailers and their ilk have to stand and defend their comrades animalistic behaviors. Why is it that they stand in defense of this type of corruption within their ranks?
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