Ex-NC prison head: I didn’t quit over incident

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The former head of a state prison in North Carolina says he didn’t retire because of the pepper spraying of inmate that’s resulted in disciplinary action against six prison employees.

The Charlotte Observer reported Friday that former prison administrator Rick Jackson says his decision wasn’t related to the pepper spraying of inmate Bill Rayburn at Lanesboro Correctional Institution in Anson County. Jackson says he decided to retire on his own. He declined to elaborate.

Last week, a spokesman for the state Correction Department said the spraying led to Jackson’s retirement. Spokesman Keith Acree says that had been his impression, but he could have been wrong.

A Correction Department investigation found employees violated the agency’s use-of-force policies in their treatment of Rayburn.

Information from: The Charlotte Observer

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