‘Deeply disappointing’: Meck County detention officer fired after attacking inmate

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Mecklenburg County detention officer has been fired after the sheriff said he attacked an inmate last week inside the jail in uptown Charlotte.

Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry L. McFadden announced Thursday that Detention Officer Darryl Shavers has been charged and arrested on felony assault charges stemming from a fight with an inmate on Aug. 20.

According to an MCSO release, an inmate threw an empty paper cup at Shavers after the two got into an argument inside a housing unit. Shavers then attacked the inmate, which the sheriff said is “unacceptable under MCSO policies and procedures.”

According to the release, Shavers submitted a written report describing his use of force but failed to include sufficient details of the attack, which was caught on camera.

According to McFadden, what started as an investigation into Shavers’ use of force turned into a criminal investigation against the officer. He said investigators found that Shavers’ actions were not in line with MCSO training and policy and were “criminal in nature.”

Shavers has worked with the MCSO since June 5, 2019 and was fired by McFadden on Wednesday.

“The conduct of Officer Shavers is deeply disappointing ... the dangers of working in a detention facility are certainly not lost on me. However, I have to ensure the safety of not only my officers but also the residents of our detention facilities, which is why I felt it prudent to act decisively in this case. This kind of officer conduct undermines the professional work being done by the vast majority of the detention professionals at MCSO,” McFadden said.

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