A Second Report Released On Hillsborough’s Jails

Posted Oct 22, 2008 by Josh Poltilove

Updated Oct 22, 2008 at 06:48 AM

Al Mccray loyally attended an independent review commission’s meetings about Hillsborough County’s jail system.

Sheriff David Gee created the commission after a surveillance video showed a quadriplegic man being dumped from a wheelchair by a detention deputy in Orient Road Jail’s booking area. Several other reports of jail abuse appeared in the media spotlight soon after video showed Brian Sterner being dropped from the wheelchair.

Mccray was arrested in 2001 for violating probation and sat in booking, carefully reading a medical form. Detention deputies felt he was reading too slowly, so he was placed in a holding cell and taunted, he said. Deputies ultimately investigated the incident after he filed a complaint, he said.

The Tampa businessman, who writes columns for The Tampa Tribune, told the commission of his reported incident of abuse.

Commissioners listened, coming up with a list of recommendations.

Mccray and others who had been within the system worked on a report of their own.

Mccray’s report was released Tuesday.

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at jpoltilove@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7691. Follow crime throughout the day at Keyword: Crime Blog