A former Hall County jail employee has been arrested for damaging government property. On Friday, Branden Hulsey, 23, of Gainesville, was taken into custody after throwing a chair into a glass window while he was on duty earlier in the week.
According to a press release from the Hall County Sheriff’s Office, the incident happened on Feb. 10 when Hulsey picked up a chair in the control room of an inmate housing unit and threw it at the glass window, cracking the security glass. The estimated cost to replace the glass is $5,000.
Several employees saw it happen and reported it. Hulsey asked his coworkers to overlook the damage.
According to the release, Hulsey had expressed frustration with having to complete paperwork related to the job.
“Hulsey’s conduct was unacceptable and a blatant criminal act,” Sheriff Gerald Couch said in a press release on Friday. “To further compound the situation, Hulsey attempted to persuade other employees to overlook his actions. I commend the other employees for doing the right thing and reporting the situation to their supervisor. Hulsey is being held accountable for his actions. No one is exempt or above the law.”
Hulsey was on leave immediately after the incident happened, and upon his arrest Friday, was terminated. He faces one count of criminal damage to government property, second-degree.
