RICHMOND, VA (WTVR) - It's not often that people get arrested while they're already in jail, but yesterday that is exactly what happened to Richmond Sheriff's Deputy Jermaine Dove.
"It's always a ‘your word against mine’ type of situation every time," said Dove about the incident.
Less than a week after a scuffle with inmate in the jail Dove claimed he was questioned for thirty minutes about the incident and then charged with a crime.
"Next thing I know I was in handcuffs at work...I don't know," Dove said.
Dove said the assault charge and his suspension from his job are unfair and says some of the facts released about his case were simply untrue.
Jail administrators said Dove initially broke policy by moving an inmate without an order to do so. Dove admits moving 22-year old Marquan Pollard but said it was to see a supervisor after the inmate had been threatening him all day.
"We move people all the time, there doesn't have to be any paperwork, we move them all the time," said Dove.
Dove also claimed he did not begin the physical exchange.
"He hit me and after that it just happened, I was just defending myself," said Dove.
He admitted there was a brief fight but denies reports of ever poking Pollard in the eye during it and said his own injuries didn't require any treatment. He feels confident he'll be able to clear his name in court.
"I feel like I didn't do anything…it doesn't bother me…it's going to come to the light," said Dove.
