The Georgia Bureau of Investigation will look into whether five correctional officers at the Troup County Jail used excessive force on an inmate.

The jailers were dismissed Wednesday because of an incident involving an intoxicated man charged with criminal trespass who was taken to the jail by LaGrange police on April 17.

“The jailers came out to assist with getting the man out of the car and used what we feel was excessive force,” Sheriff Donny Turner said. “They operated outside of how they were trained.”

The suspect didn’t receive medical treatment and posted bond the same day, Turner said.

One of the jailers had worked at the Sheriff’s Department for nearly two years, while the others had worked there for about 12 to 18 months.

District Attorney Pete Skandalakis agreed that the GBI should conduct an investigation and the case may be presented to a grand jury, Turner said.

Skandalakis said Turner requested the investigation “to determine if jailers violated any criminal statutes through excessive use of force to restrain an inmate.”

The GBI’s report will be turned over to the district attorney’s office. The GBI is checking preliminary data, special agent Rodney Wall said.

In an unrelated incident, James Woodruff was terminated Friday as chief jail administrator, Turner said.

He said Woodruff allowed a female inmate charged with driving on a suspended license to leave the jail and drive to the state Department of Driver Services in LaGrange on April 24 and to Columbus four days later.

“We let Woodruff go because he acted without proper authority,” Turner said. “His actions affected her case on the state level and up, and they affected her probation officer. By law, if you are charged with driving on a suspended license, but can present a valid license at your court hearing, the charge is dismissed.”

Because the inmate obtained a valid driver’s license, the case was dismissed in State Court, Turner said. She also had a hearing scheduled in Superior Court for violation of parole on a separate felony charge.

“That case will be dismissed as well because of the outcome of the other case,” Turner said. “Woodruff affected the outcome of both cases in a strong manner and said he thought he was helping the court system. As for the inmate, that person was released from the jail. She did nothing wrong in her actions and we thought it could be a dangerous situation to leave her in the jail with the other inmates.”

Woodruff had been chief deputy since 2004 and became chief jail administrator in June in a job swap with Frank Kirby, who became chief deputy.

“It’s hard to make decisions like that,” Turner said. “But given the circumstances, it’s something that we had to do.”

Kenneth Thompson can be reached at kethompson@ lagrangenews.com or at (706) 884-7311, Ext. 228