A former jail guard from Fulton County, Georgia, identified as Khadijah Solomon, has been indicted on federal civil rights charges. Reports indicate that Solomon allegedly used her Taser without legal justification against three inmates and subsequently made false statements to cover up her actions.
Solomon, a 47-year-old resident of Fairburn, pleaded not guilty to the six-count indictment this Tuesday in a federal court in Atlanta and was subsequently released on bail. The Fulton County jail, where Solomon was formerly employed, has been under federal scrutiny for civil rights issues for the past two years. Notably, it was also the location where Donald Trump surrendered on charges of election interference in 2023.
The indictment, issued on June 11, claims that Solomon used her Taser against separate inmates on three distinct dates in January. It alleges that she then filed false reports to justify her actions. However, investigators from the sheriff’s office counter these claims, stating that video footage from body-worn cameras revealed the detainees were compliant and not resisting.
The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office in February announced the termination of Solomon’s employment, along with two other jail officers, Chantrece Buggs and LaQuondria Pierce. These three individuals were also arrested and charged with state crimes, including aggravated assault and violating their oath of office. The charges against Solomon, who held the rank of jail sergeant, also included cruelty to inmates and false statements or writings.
The U.S. Justice Department in July 2023 initiated a civil rights investigation into the conditions within Fulton County jail, citing instances of violence, unsanitary living conditions, and a death in custody where the deceased was found beset with insects. The investigation found a pattern of excessive force use by jail officers, who were deemed to lack adequate training and guidance on the matter.
Solomon’s indictment is part of a larger issue of civil rights violations within the Fulton County jail. As part of a resolution to these issues, the Justice Department and Fulton County officials entered into a court-enforceable consent decree earlier this year, with an independent monitor appointed in February to oversee its implementation.
This raises important questions about the treatment of inmates and the accountability of law enforcement. The case of Khadijah Solomon is a stark reminder of these ongoing issues within our justice system.