Former Hillsdale deputy admits to pepper-spraying an inmate multiple times

HILLSDALE, MI – A former Hillsdale County sheriff’s sergeant pleaded guilty after being accused of assaulting a female inmate at the county jail.

The release says Ronald Leggitt, 44, of Marshall, pleaded guilty to one felony count of misconduct in office and one misdemeanor count of aggravated assault for repeatedly spraying pepper spray in the face of a female inmate who was just inches away from her eyes when she was restrained. by the Michigan Attorney General’s Office on Tuesday, November 26.

As part of his plea, he agreed to waive his MCOLES certification, which bars him from serving as a police officer anywhere in Michigan, officials said.

“As a result of this verdict, Mr. Leggitt has been disqualified from serving as a Michigan police officer, which prevents him from harming others under his authority,” said Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. “My department continues to strive to hold accountable those who abuse their positions.”

Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 29 before Jackson County District Judge John McBain.

Leggitt was arraigned March 17 on six counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of misconduct in the line of duty. He is currently on unpaid administrative leave from the Sheriff’s Office.

Police arrested the woman on December 16, 2021, and she allegedly became involved in a conflict with jail officials during the booking process, officials said.

Officers took the woman to the jail, where Leggitt oversaw operations and staff. Jail staff were informed that the woman resisted officers during arrest and continued to demonstrate resistance and disruption after entering the prison, officials said.

The attorney general’s office says Leggitt attacked the inmate six times over an 80-minute period with an aerosol restraint, commonly known as mace or pepper spray, spraying the chemical irritant from several inches away.

Officials said that during five of the six alleged assaults, the victim was secured in a life chair and was restrained at the wrists, ankles and chest, preventing him from moving.

On December 22, 2021, six days after the alleged assault, Michigan State Police contacted the Hillsdale County Sheriff’s Office to report that several troopers had witnessed Leggitt use excessive force against a woman who had been arrested, Hillsdale County Sheriff Scott Hodshire said in a written statement.

The sheriff’s office launched an internal investigation and contacted the Michigan Sheriff’s Association team, asking them to launch their own investigation as an independent third party, Hodshire said.

Leggitt was only given administrative duties during an internal investigation. The association’s team then sent its findings to the Attorney General’s Office in February 2022, Hodshire said.

Leggitt continued to work for the sheriff’s office until March 13, when the sheriff’s office was notified of the pending charges and placed him on unpaid leave. He no longer works for the Hillsdale County Sheriff’s Office.

On November 20, a lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan seeking damages for Leggitt’s use of excessive force, emotional distress and the sheriff’s office’s failure to intervene and cease the actions.

The lawsuit said the woman was under the influence of alcohol, was experiencing a mental health crisis and was suicidal when she was sent to prison.

Mental health workers told jail staff that she should be in a hospital, not a prison, but she was not transferred, the lawsuit claims.

Lawyers for the woman and Hillsdale County did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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