SAFFORD — An April 14 complaint from a Graham County Jail inmate about being targeted for punishment by a corrections officer was determined to be without merit.
The inmate, Identified as Ronald Hayes, said he was ticketed by the officer unfairly, and demanded an investigation by Graham County Sheriff’s Office. Hayes is reported to say he believed the punishment was retaliation for a previous incident between him and the officer.
The deputy reviewed closed-circuit camera footage of the officer, conducting a security patrol, and Hayes appearing to record the officer’s movements with an electronic tablet, which is a violation. The officer then removed the tablet.
The deputy then interviewed command staff, who said the decision to punish Hayes was theirs and not the officer’s.
The deputy informed Hayes that his investigation showed no inappropriate action taken by the officer or other jail staff, and the punishment was warranted.
