Warner Robins man files lawsuit against detention center in Perry

PERRY -- A Warner Robins man says he was placed in a "dangerous and hostile environment" for two days in September when being held at the state-run McEver Probation Detention Center.

Zalton Edgar Brooks Sr., 50, of Warner Robins was being held at the center after his probation was revoked for habitually driving on a suspended license.

Brooks filed a lawsuit against the McEver Probation Detention Center warden and detention officers in federal court in Macon on Nov. 2. He is seeking monetary and punitive damages.

Brooks' lawsuit says he was placed in a dormitory with known gang members who intended to harm him on Sept. 28. When he complained to a detention officer, Brooks claims he was told to "handle it the best way I could."

He alleged he told other detention officers who came on duty later. But he remained housed in the same dormitory with the gang members, which Brooks alleged "placed my life in danger."

After the gang members again "jumped me," Brooks said, he was placed by the center's warden in administrative protective custody. After he filed the lawsuit, Brooks said he was transferred to the Houston County jail to serve the remainder of his sentence.

He originally was sentenced as a habitual violator on June 27, 2013, to spend 90 days of a five-year year sentence in jail, with the rest to be served on probation, Houston County Superior Court records show. His probation was revoked Aug. 3, and he was sentenced to 90 to 120 days in a probation detention center.

The McEver Probation Detention Center is under the Georgia Department of Corrections. Lisa Rodriguez-Presley, a state DOC spokeswoman, declined to comment on pending litigation.

To contact writer Becky Purser, call 256-9559, or find her on Twitter@becpurser.

This story was originally published November 12, 2015 at 6:20 PM with the headline "Warner Robins man files lawsuit against detention center in Perry ."