Friday, March 25, 2011Two Russell County, Ala., Sheriff’s Detectives Indicted for Assaulting a Man in Custody

WASHINGTON – The Justice Department announced today the arrest of Russell County Sheriff’s Office Detectives Kirby Dollar, 37, and Timothy Watford, 42.   A federal grand jury in Montgomery, Ala., returned an indictment on March 22, 2011, charging Dollar and Watford with civil rights offenses related to their assault of a man in custody on Nov. 26, 2010.

If convicted, the defendants face maximum penalties of 10 years in prison on the civil rights charges.

The charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The case is being investigated by the Mobile, Ala., Division of the FBI – Montgomery Office .   The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan D. Stump of the Middle District of Alabama and Civil Rights Division Trial Attorney Benjamin J. Hawk.