ATLANTA (AP) – The governor of Georgia on Wednesday suspended a sheriff who is accused of violating the civil rights of several people in his custody by unnecessarily strapping them into safety chairs and leaving them there for hours.
A federal grand jury had indicted Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill in April. The prosecution accuses the sheriff of improperly using restraint chairs as punishment in the county jail.
Governor Brian Kemp last month appointed a review board composed of the Attorney General and two other sheriffs to determine whether the charges in the indictment would affect Hill’s ability to do his job in a way that adversely affects the public .
The commission found that it was and recommended Hill’s suspension, Kemp wrote in his order. The suspension is immediate and will remain in effect until the charges against him are cleared or his term expires, whichever comes first, the order states.
Drew Findling, a Hill attorney, said his client was disappointed with the governor’s order.
“However, we remain confident that Sheriff Hill will ultimately be completely exonerated,” said Findling in a telephone interview, back in office. “
Hill remains bailed while his case is pending.
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