Sheriff: Deputy fired for pepper spraying restrained inmate

This arrest photo made available by the Chatham County Sheriff's Office on Monday, April 25, 2016, shows Sgt. Charlesetta Hawkins. Chatham County Sheriff John Wilcher says he fired Hawkins and had her charged with cruelty to an inmate after security video showed her using pepper spray on an inmate who spit in the deputy’s face while his hands and feet were bound to a restraint chair. (Chatham County Sheriff's Office via AP) (The Associated Press)

This image taken from security video from the Chatham County jail in Savannah, Georgia, shows a sheriff’s deputy using pepper spray on an inmate whose hands and feet are bound to a restraint chair. Sheriff John Wilcher said Monday, April 25, 2015, he fired the deputy, Sgt. Charlesetta Hawkins, and had her arrested on charges of cruelty to an inmate following the April 18, 2015, incident. The sheriff’s office released copies of the jail video to reporters. (Chatham County Jail via AP) (The Associated Press)

SAVANNAH, Ga. – A Georgia sheriff says he has fired a deputy for using pepper spray on a restrained inmate who spit in her face.

Chatham County Sheriff John Wilcher planned a news conference Monday to discuss the firing of Sgt. Charlesetta Hawkins, who was also charged with cruelty to an inmate.

A news release says Hawkins placed inmate Jonathan Mahone in a restraint chair April 18 after he broke a sprinkler head in his cell. It says Mahone was strapped into the chair when he spit in Hawkins' face, prompting the deputy to spray him twice with pepper spray.

Two Chatham County deputies were convicted of crimes last year in the January 2015 death of Mathew Ajibade (ah-jeh-BAH-dee). He died at the jail after being shocked with a Taser while in restraints.