Commissioner Leads Inquiry After Teens Were Left Alone in Courthouse Holding Cells

Douglas County Commissioner Kelly Robinson is initiating an investigation into the weekend incident at the county courthouse in which two juvenile suspects were left alone in holding cells for more than two days.

Robinson said in an emailed statement he will “initiate an independent inquiry to understand the institutional failure points,” according to an AJC report.

The two teens, who were at the courthouse for Friday hearings, were left alone in holding cells at the Douglas County courthouse without food, lights or toilet paper the entire weekend, the sheriff confirmed Tuesday.

The teens, ages 16 and 17, were supposed to be transported back to an area youth detention center after neither suspects’ parents showed up at the courthouse on Friday. They were put in holding cells, but not checked again until Monday morning.

Sheriff Phil Miller said deputies assigned to security at the courthouse did not follow procedure and failed to check to make sure the cells were clear by the end of the day Friday.

Robinson called the incident “unfathomable” in his emailed statement.

WSB-TV reported between 8 to 10 deputies were involved, and there may be firings after an internal investigation.