Corrections officer pleads not guilty to assaulting inmate
A corrections officer at the St. John’s Lockup accused of assaulting a prisoner has pleaded not guilty.
Anthony Crocker wasn't in provincial court Friday when his case was called. Instead, he was represented by lawyer Randy Piercey who entered the plea to the charge of assault on his client's behalf.
Piercey and Crown prosecutor Erin Matthews, who was filling in for Sheldon Steeves, agreed to schedule the trial for May 22-23.
Crocker, 34, of Mount Pearl, was charged as a result of an incident that was said to have happened at the lockup — located in the Newfoundland Supreme Court building on Water Street — on Aug. 27.
Crocker was said to have brutally beaten David Michael Boland shortly after he was taken into custody.
Sources told The Telegram the assault included several blows to the prisoner’s head while he was handcuffed. It is believed to have been captured on surveillance video, which is being reviewed by investigators.
The Telegram reported in early September that two corrections officers were being investigated by the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary as a result of a report of the assault. The two officers — one of whom is Crocker — were suspended Aug. 29 with pay while both the internal and police investigations continued.
Crocker was being investigated for assault, while the other man was said to have been in trouble for watching Crocker assault Boland and doing nothing to prevent it from happening.
Crocker was formally charged Wednesday, the day after Boland was released from custody on a recognizance.
Boland was said to have been brought to the lockup that night for causing a disturbance at the Cotton Club in downtown St. John’s. He was thought to have been drunk and was taken to the lockup since he was under court orders to abstain from alcohol.
The assault was said to have happened shortly after he arrived.
Boland, 37, in turn is charged with uttering threats and assaulting Crocker on Aug. 26 while at the lockup.
He also faces many of other charges dating back to last year, including failing to show up for court, uttering threats, impaired driving and breaching court orders.
Some of those charges were laid in Corner Brook, where he is scheduled to appear in court Dec. 22. He’s due back in court in St. John’s Dec. 18.