On June 22nd 2024, Lee County Sheriff’s Corrections deputies were collecting laundry from inmates in the F-Wing section of the jail when one of the inmates escaped from his cell, ran past Officers and proceeded down the cell block. Corrections staff pursued the inmate and were able to take him back into custody after a taser deployment. The inmate was then handcuffed and taken to the floor where he continued to struggle with corrections staff.
During the struggle on the floor to bring the inmate into compliance, a Corrections Officers struck him in the face with his fist. The inmate was examined by Detention Center medical staff who observed the inmate to have a swollen lip but no other injuries. An Investigation regarding the corrections deputy’s use of force was conducted and it was determined that agency policy was violated. The Corrections Deputy was terminated from employment on June 24.
A warrant charging former Corrections Deputy Dalton J. Dunlap (30 yoa) with misdemeanor assault was issued and served on June 28. He posted bond and was released.
Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones stated “our agency personnel are held to a standard of professional conduct in all actions. The behavior exhibited in this instance is a clear violation of professional conduct and established agency policy and will not be tolerated.”