A Richmond County deputy was fired and arrested after allegations that he handcuffed and beat a 12-year-old boy as a disciplinary technique.
Authorities say Deputy Alton Walker was at a friend’s home on Anne Street to help discipline a 12-year-old boy. That is where the uniformed officer allegedly handcuffed the boy to a basketball goal and struck him several times in the face and once in the chest, sheriff’s Lt. Allan Rollins said in a press release. He pulled out his Taser and tried to scare the boy.
“The Taser never made contact with the juvenile,” Lt. Rollins said. “Deputy Walker is also accused of striking the juvenile several times on his legs with his ASP baton but the only visible marks observed on the juvenile were to his wrists. The boy was checked at the scene by EMS.”
Deputy Walker was not related to the juvenile. He was off duty at the time but wearing his uniform.
Based on this incident, Deputy Walker was terminated from the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, effective immediately.
Walker has been charged with felony false imprisonment and child cruelty. “Because Deputy Walker was representing himself as a Richmond County deputy, the warrants had to be signed by a Superior Court judge, which was done so this morning,” Lt. Rollins said.
