Crime & Safety
Jailer Pepper-Sprayed Inmate In Scabies Lawsuit Dispute: Police
A CoreCivic correctional officer pepper-sprayed an inmate who was considering joining the jail scabies class action, police say.
NASHVILLE, TN -- A CoreCivic correctional officer allegedly pepper-sprayed an inmate at the Metro Detention Center after he learned the inmate might join the class-action lawsuit connected to the scabies outbreak at the jail.
Investigators say Oluwatobi M. Ola pulled the inmate out of bed in the middle of the night and began arguing with him. Video shows Ola start to walk away but then he turns back to continue arguing with the inmate, who was several feet away and making no threatening motions, according to an affidavit.
Nevertheless, Ola then pulled out his pepper-spray, spraying the inmate in the face for several seconds. CoreCivic, a private prison operator based in Nashville, fired Ola after an investigation.
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Police say Ola was angry with the inmate because he learned he was considering signing on to the class-action lawsuit against CoreCivic regarding the scabies outbreak.
Ola is charged with misdemeanor assault.
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Photo via Metro Nashville Police
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