Grand jury clears 2 former Jasper officers of brutality

A Jasper County grand jury cleared two former police officers who were caught on video manhandling a woman inside the police station last year.

Ricky Grissom and Ryan Cunningham will not face criminal charges for their role in the May 5, 2013, incident.

Police station surveillance video showed the officers wrestling Keyarika Diggles to the ground while dispatcher Lindsey Davenport watched. One of the officers grabbed a handful of Diggles hair and slammed her against the police station counter. Together they dragged her by her feet into a darkened holding cell.

Diggles, who was arrested on suspicion of unpaid traffic tickets, claimed she was left on the floor for hours without medical attention and subjected to a strip search.

The Jasper City Council fired Grissom and Cunningham shortly after the incident. Davenport, who apparently conducted the strip search, was fired later.

Diggles won a $75,000-settlement in a civil lawsuit she filed against the city and five other defendants - including the two officers. Her attorney, Cade Bernsen, said he was disgusted by the grand jury's decision not to indict the officers.

"We are shocked by the failure of the prosecutor to get an indictment," he said. "I'm wondering what investigation was done because the video speaks for itself."