TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Hillsborough Jail Abuse Lawsuit Sent To Mediator

ADVERTISEMENT

By ELAINE SILVESTRINI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 17, 2008

TAMPA - A woman's federal civil rights lawsuit against the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, accusing detention deputies of abusing her, has been referred to mediation.

A federal judge this morning sent the case of Marcella Pourmoghani-Esfahani to mediator Peter J. Grilli.

Pourmoghani-Esfahani's attorney, Virlyn B. Moore, says that jail video from Nov. 11, 2006, shows his client being struck by a detention deputy in the holding area of the jail.

Video images show Deputy Shanna Marsh speaking to Pourmoghani-Esfahani before pulling her by the arm. Pourmoghani-Esfahani pulls back and hangs on to her seat, which the sheriff's office says amounts to resisting.

The deputy reaches for the woman's shoulder and sleeve and does not intentionally pull her by the hair, the sheriff's office has said. Marsh pulls Pourmoghani-Esfahani from her seat to the ground and punches her.

The deputy's superiors reviewed the incident and said Marsh did nothing wrong.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT