Washington police officer involved in jail incident resigns
Washington City Council accepted Thursday the resignation of a city police officer who handcuffed a Washington County jail captain during a May incident at the jail.
When asked if the resignation had anything to do with the jail incident, Mayor Scott Putnam said the officer, Joseph Moore, tendered his resignation “to pursue other interests.” Police Chief Robert Wilson declined to comment Thursday on Moore’s resignation.
Surveillance video shows Moore handcuffing Capt. Wendy Harris May 27, after she declined to accept a prisoner. Harris allegedly did not accept Moore’s prisoner, Benjamin Burgess, 34, of Washington, due to his pre-existing medical condition. Burgess was arrested that night for driving under the influence and was on a warrant in Beaver County.
Harris told Moore Burgess needed to be cleared by a doctor before he could be booked at the jail. Moore then handcuffed Harris and said he would file a charge against her, but no charge was filed.
Moore was placed on administrative duty June 15, the same day an initial story about the incident appeared in the Observer-Reporter. According to Wilson, his department completed its internal review of the incident two weeks ago.
Harris filed a writ of summons indicating her intention to file a lawsuit against Moore, the City of Washington and the city police department in Washington County Court. She is still working as a jail captain.
The licensed practical nurse on duty at the jail the night of the incident is no longer employed by Washington County. Ronald Markle, 53, of Washington, said he was fired that night, but the county considers him to have quit his job.
Markle said in an interview last month he insisted Burgess be taken to a hospital before being booked. He said the night of the incident he and jail Warden Edward Strawn had a conversation that ended with Markle stating, “I’m done with this.”
Markle said he intended to return to his office, but Strawn allegedly took his statement to mean that Markle was quitting his job. Strawn allegedly told him that he was no longer needed and that he was “dismissed,” according to Markle.