Correctional officer charged with battery on inmate

A correctional officer at the St. Mary Parish jail was charged with battery Friday and fired from job after allegedly striking an inmate in the face Thursday, according to a St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office news release.
Ricky Marttin, 51, of the 2400 block of Fourth Street in Jeanerette, was arrested at 3:12 p.m. Friday on the charge of simple battery. The St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office security team at the Law Enforcement Center in Centerville observed a possible battery on an inmate by a correctional officer that occurred around 10:30 p.m. Thursday, the release said. The inmate was immediately attended by medical personnel who found no injuries. Detectives launched an investigation and collected evidence that Marttin, a correctional officer, struck an inmate in the face while escorting the offender to a dorm, the release said. Marttin was immediately terminated and subsequently placed under arrest on the criminal charge, the release said. No bail is set. The investigation is ongoing.
In the news release, Sheriff Mark Hebert said, “These actions will not be tolerated here at the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office. We, as law enforcement officers, are entrusted with public safety. Those who break that trust will be held accountable.”