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

May 8, 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 was back before Escambia Circuit Judge David Ackerman. Ackerman approved a motion to continue by Powell’s attorney. His jury trial is now set for late June.

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 Institution 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

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

  1. Eileen on May 10th, 2009 9:51 pm

    If Mr. Prisoner stayed in the truck then he deserves a pat on the back. He could have gottne “lost” in the shuffle. It also sounds like Mr. Prisoner was the one with the better attitude. Way to Mr. Prisoner. (I rever to him this way with the intent of it being a compliment.)

  2. Century girl on May 9th, 2009 10:32 pm

    It is hard to believe that the Mayor would only give a verbal reprimand to someone “fighting” on the job. That is just inexcusable in my opinion…not to mention all the other poor actions; leaving a prisoner unattended, shopping on company time, then fighting! Come on, Mayor, there are too many good people out there who want a job and who know how to behave on company time.

  3. Alice on May 9th, 2009 12:50 pm

    If you want to solve matters with someone do it on your on time

  4. judy on May 8th, 2009 11:19 pm

    mr powell shouldnt have tried to reconstruct the facts of the altercation, especially when it was all being recorded on a video camera…i think that he may want to get some anger control classes under his belt while hes out on bail…it would most likely be viewed favorabley by the judge, if he were to take the initiative and go on his own volition…and, it seems to me that if anyone should be trying to get a restraining order, it should be the fellow who was verbally and physically accosted by mr powell….

  5. Tara on May 8th, 2009 10:13 pm

    The judge is an idiot for not granting the restraining order.