The Habersham County Sheriff’s Office has concluded an investigation into a July 6 incident that led to the injury of a detention officer.
On July 6, Detention Officer Justyn Standridge responded to a radio call for help from Officer Juan Balderas. By the time Standridge arrived, Balderas had been knocked unconscious by inmate Mark Edward Roberts, 35, of Cornelia.
A release from Habersham County Sheriff's Office says that, "upon entering A Block, Officer Standridge witnessed inmate Roberts in a frantic state, apologizing repeatedly. Once Roberts observed Standridge in the block, he instantly got down on the ground and placed his hands behind his back.”
EMS was called for Balderas while two detention officers placed Roberts in a wrap restraint and removed him from A Block.
Officer Balderas was taken by Habersham County Emergency Services ambulance to Northeast Georgia Medical Center Gainesville, where he was admitted for treatment and released the following day.
According to a Habersham County press release, no security protocols were breached, and there is no known reason for the attack.
Roberts was charged with aggravated battery and felony obstruction after the incident.
He was arrested in June 2023 on charges of second-degree criminal property damage, terroristic threats, and probation violation.
Nearly a week after the incident, Officer Balderas returned to duty at the detention center.
