In Court: Century Employee That Left Prisoner Unattended, Got In Fight

April 2, 2009

A new trial date has been set for the Town of Century employee that reportedly left a state prisoner unattended in a store parking lot while he got into fight inside the store.

Robert Allen Powell, 56, of McDavid appeared before Escambia Circuit Judge David Ackerman this week and officially entered a not guilty plea and a request for a jury trial. That jury trial is scheduled for early May.

Powell reportedly got into a fight with Randall Keith Grimes, 47, of Century at the town’s Dollar General store.

Powell stopped at the Dollar General in a town truck along with a prisoner from the Century Correctional Institute that was on work detail for the town, according an Escambia County Sheriff’s Department report. Powell reportedly went into the store to purchase cold medication, leaving the prisoner unattended in the parking lot. Inside the store, Powell ended up in the altercation with Grimes.

Their stories differ on what happened. Powell told deputies that Grimes called him names and then punched him. Grimes said Powell called him a “retard” and a “bastard” before Powell punched him in the face. Powell told deputies the entire incident stemmed from Grimes’ involvement with his ex-wife.

The report says store surveillance video shows that Powell threw the first punch, according to the ECSO report. Powell was arrested on a battery warrant, and released on a $2,500 bond.

Powell filed for a restraining order to keep Grimes away from him, but that order was denied by Circuit Judge Kim Skievaski.

The only action the Town of Century took against Powell for leaving the prisoner unattended was a verbal reprimand, according to Mayor Freddie McCall.

Comments

2 Responses to “In Court: Century Employee That Left Prisoner Unattended, Got In Fight”

  1. Ron on April 3rd, 2009 8:13 am

    “The only action the Town of Century took against Powell for leaving the prisoner unattended was a verbal reprimand, according to Mayor Freddie McCall”

    And Century wants to attract outside industry? Go figure.

  2. Zero Tolerance on April 3rd, 2009 1:20 am

    Ther is no excuse for this, throw the book at them both.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News