A former sergeant at the Polk County Jail waived formal arraignment and pleaded not guilty to a felony charged of using excessive force against an inmate Monday in U.S. District Court in Rome. 25 year old Joshua David Lowe of Aragon appeared before Judge Walter E. Johnson and was granted $5,000 bail with the exceptions that Lowe must not accept employment in law enforcement or have direct contact with witnesses while the case is being prosecuted. Federal prosecutors said the incident occurred Feb. 7 at the Polk County Jail, when Lowe allegedly struck a jail inmate. The Polk County Sheriffs Office discovered the apparent violation and reported it to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. FBI agents looked into the apparent abuse and found enough evidence for an indictment. Lowe was terminated from the Polk County Sheriffs Office as a result of the incident.
2009-06-01