Updated 5:29 p.m.
State investigators were called in after a Chadbourn man in the county detention center was severely assaulted by other inmates.
Chief Deputy Aaron Herring confirmed that the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) was called in at the request of Sheriff Jody Greene and District Attorney Jon David. The sheriff’s office had no additional comment, due to the investigation, Herring said.
David said the case is under investigation.
“I can confirm that Sheriff Jody Greene and I made a concurrent request for an SBI investigation involving a serious assault which occurred at the jail last Wednesday,” David wrote in an email. “The case is under investigation, so I cannot speak about the identities of any suspects, but I will confirm the name of the victim is Joshua Johnson.
“Mr. Johnson is in serious condition at Columbus Regional Hospital.”
The detainee has been identified by several sources as Joshua Cornelius Johnson, 33, of Gillard Road, Chadbourn. Detention Center rosters show he was arrested July 29 for assault on a female, communicating threats, three counts of failure to appear on a misdemeanor charge, and failure to pay $1,896 in child support. His bond was set at $28,000 secured, plus the child support arrears.
This is a developing story.
