An Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office employee has been fired and is now facing malfeasance in office charges after investigators say she hit and pepper-sprayed a parish jail inmate while making security rounds.
According to sheriff’s office officials, Imyri Johnson was fired and arrested on Monday following an internal investigation.
Investigators say video of the incident shows Johnson striking the inmate, identified by authorities as Keymon Bush, after he threw a cup of water at her through an open food hatch. Johnson then allegedly struck the Bush in the face. An argument between the two ensued, after which investigators say Johnson “discharged her agency-issued OC spray into the cell.”
Investigators noted that a second inmate was in the cell at the time of the incident.
“Throughout this incident, Johnson failed to follow standard operating procedure requiring jail staff to notify backup of the incident or secure inmates in their cell,” sheriff’s office officials said in a news release. “Investigators also found that Johnson returned to confront the inmate and remove his cellmate before backup arrived. When the door was improperly opened, Bush immediately became involved in a physical altercation with several inmates who had gathered nearby.”
Officials say Bush and other inmates who were involved in the incident will face charges once the investigation is completed. Some of those inmates will face additional charges in connection with contraband deputies say they found after the incident.
