CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. — A former detention deputy from Charleston County has been charged with assault and battery following an incident at the Al Cannon Detention Center on Wednesday.
According to the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, Alan Genest, 34, used excessive force while taking an inmate to the ground and while securing the inmate in an emergency restraint chair.
Following the incident, an investigation was launched. Genest was placed on administrative leave with pay, but he was terminated on Friday and arrested. He now faces one count of second-degree assault and battery and one count of misconduct in office.
Genest had been employed with the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office since 2017.
Charleston County Sheriff Carl Ritchie emphasized the importance of maintaining a safe and secure detention environment. “I pledge to run a safe and secure Detention Center and want the community to know behavior like this will not be tolerated,” Sheriff Ritchie said. “When something like this happens, we investigate and take swift action.”
The Office of Professional Standards and the Criminal Investigations Division are continuing to investigate the incident.
