Nov. 01--KNOXVILLE -- Knox County Sheriff Jimmy "J.J." Jones this morning fired a corrections officer accused of ripping a side view mirror from a city police cruiser and fighting the officer while intoxicated.
Corrections Officer Joshua McGill, 23, of Knoxville faces charges of public intoxication, assault, vandalism, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct, according to Knoxville Police Department spokesman Darrell DeBusk.
Records show McGill was released from the jail where he worked on a $1,000 bond.
DeBusk said the incident occurred about 12:15 a.m. at Crowne Apartments in a parking lot at the intersection of Grand Avenue and 21st Street in Fort Sanders.
Police were alerted to a man vandalizing vehicles in the parking lot, including breaking side view mirrors, and sent KPD Officer Sergio Marrero to investigate.
When Marrero arrived, McGill "deliberately and intentionally vandalized the driver side mirror of his K-9 Ford Crown Victoria by knocking it off the vehicle," DeBusk said. The officer noted McGill "was visibly intoxicated," DeBusk said.
While trying to arrest McGill, the corrections officer resisted arrest and "attempted to strike Officer Marrero in the face," DeBusk said. McGill was subdued "after a brief struggle," the spokesman said.
The tussle resulted in cuts and scratches to McGill, who was treated by an ambulance crew before being taken to the Knox County Sheriff's Detention Facility.
Jones said he fired McGill this morning. McGill was hired in July 2011, Jones said.
"It was my call," the sheriff said. "These type of actions will not be tolerated."
Under the Knox County Sheriff's Merit System Council rules, McGill has three days to appeal his termination, according to the Sheriff's Office. Jones indicated an appeal would not be well received.
"That decision has been made," he said.
More details as they develop online and in Friday's News Sentinel.
Copyright 2012 - The Knoxville News-Sentinel, Tenn.
