MOULTRIE — A Colquitt County jailer has been arrested after investigations into two use of force incidents involving inmates.
On Saturday, June 27, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation was asked by Colquitt County Sheriff Rod Howell to investigate a use of force incident involving Colquitt County Jailer Russell Harris.
According to the GBI, Harris was involved in a physical altercation with inmate Bobby Ellerson who had been fighting with another inmate. Ellerson was treated for injuries at a local hospital as a result of the altercations with the other inmate and Harris. This case is still active and ongoing.
During the investigation, the sheriff learned that Harris was involved in a separate use of force incident with another inmate that took place in March involving Inmate Kirby Fender. Howell notified the GBI of this and then requested the GBI open a separate investigation into this incident as well.
As a result of this investigation, the GBI has charged Harris with one count of aggravated assault and one count of violation of oath of office for allegedly striking Inmate Fender.
Harris has been arrested on these charges and turned himself in to the Colquitt County Jail on the afternoon of July 6. Once the case file is complete, it will be turned over to the District Attorney’s Office for prosecution. This case is active and ongoing.
Anyone with information on either case is asked and encouraged to call the GBI at 229-225-4090.
Thom Chandler
Thom Chandler is the editor of The Georgia Sun and has been writing, editing and managing websites and blogs since 1995. He is a lifelong Georgian and one of those increasingly rare Atlanta natives.
