MARIETTA
– A sergeant with the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office was arrested on Thursday and
charged with sexually assaulting a female inmate.
Sheriff
Neil Warren said investigators learned of the matter after the inmate made a
complaint late Wednesday alleging she had been sexually assaulted by an
employee of the Sheriff’s Office on the evening of Jan. 11.
“We
were able to determine through the investigation that there was probable cause
for a criminal warrant to be issued,” Warren said. “I’m really heartbroken over
it, to be honest with you.”
Sutherland,
who has since been terminated, is a former Marine and 10-year veteran of the
department.
He
was assigned to the detention center, where he supervised 20 to 30 deputies and
about 250 inmates, Warren said.
The
sheriff said, while he couldn’t go into many details, the jail covers about 20
acres.
“You’re
moving inmates from point A to point B, it could be for various reasons,”
Warren said. “It could be for moving them into another cellblock, taking them
to the infirmary for a doctor’s appointment, to see the nurse, just a number of
things.”
Warren
said it’s normal procedure, given that Sutherland was a sergeant, to help with
moving inmates.
“And
evidently they had some time together when this was committed,” he said.
“He
has brought distrust and dishonor on the family of law enforcement,” Warren
said. “He has tarnished the badge that we all in law enforcement hold dear to
our heart.”
Warren
said the conduct Sutherland engaged in was unacceptable under any
circumstances.
“But
even more so when it’s perpetrated by a law enforcement officer against someone
that he’s been charged with protecting,” he said.
Investigators
are checking on other possible misconduct.
“I
have already initiated an internal investigation to find out how can we not let
this happen again,” Warren said.