SEDGWICK COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas sheriff's deputy in connection with the mistreatment of a shackled inmate.
On January 30, the Sedgwick County jail had an inmate due in court that was transported to the judicial division where there are court holding cells, according to Sheriff Jeff Easter.
The inmate placed into a holding cell handcuffed and shackled started rubbing the handcuffs up against the wall. A sheriff's deputy told him to stop.
Another deputy later identified as Matthew Stineman, 47, entered the cell and pushed and slapped the inmate with an open hand, according to Easter.
Due to the nature of the situation and the fact that the inmate was shackled, the sheriff's department took the incident to the Wichita Police Department for a criminal investigation for battery and or mistreatment of a confined prisoner. The prisoner was not injured and made his court appearance, according to Easter.
Following the investigation, the city prosecutor's office charged Stineman with one count of mistreatment of a confined prisoner, according to Easter.
The sheriff's department has placed Stineman on restrictive duty. He will have no contact with inmates.
This was out of character for this employee, according to Easter. "We've had no similar issues with Stineman during his 13-years with the sheriff's department's judicial division but that doesn't excuse him for this alleged behavior."
Stineman was not arrested but issued a summons on Monday, according to Easter.
The charge is not a city ordinance but a state statute and the city prosecutor's office will prosecute this in state court, according to Easter.