Deputy Fired After Striking Jail Inmate: Investigators

The Tampa Bay Times is reporting that Deputy Richard Stotts was terminated from his job, after an internal affairs investigation of the May 8 incident.

According to the sheriff's department, Stotts hit inmate David Alan Koons on the head and neck, and then pinned him to the ground. "Stotts and Koons are both white," according to the Times article.

According to a news release, Deputy Stotts was hired on Aug. 20, 2001. His last day at work was July 29, 2013.

Clearwater Police had arrested Koons and brought him to the Pinellas County Jail, after he allegedly yelled profanities and was disruptive on a PSTA bus.

According to the Times, Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said: "When you lose your temper and you lose your cool, then you're not going to work here anymore."

According to a news release from the Sheriff's Department:

"Internal affairs investigators say that as the inmate began yelling, Detention Deputy Richard Stotts approached the inmate and without provocation or legal justification struck the handcuffed inmate in the lower neck and head area with his right forearm. Investigators say that with his arm placed around the inmate’s head, Detention Deputy Stotts then took the inmate to the floor and placed himself on top of the inmate.

"The investigation determined that at no time did the handcuffed inmate physically threaten any staff member or pose a physical threat to the staff. Investigators say Stotts admitted that the use of force was not justified and that it “didn’t meet the criteria.” Stotts further admitted to over-reacting and losing his temper."

This was not the first incident involving alleged improper conduct toward inmates by Stotts.