Cobb deputy recruit fired, arrested after an altercation with an inmate

Cobb County Sheriff Craig Owens recently held a press conference following the firing and arrest of Jacqun Brown, a deputy recruit who allegedly attacked a Cobb jail inmate. 

Owens said Jacqun Brown, 24, of Austell was arrested at 3:15 p.m. Monday for his alleged role in the altercation, which occurred on Saturday, as Brown was attempting to move inmate Matthew Cubbage of Smyrna inside Lima Pod, Dorm 3, to deescalate a situation in which Cubbage had caused a disturbance. 

According to a warrant for Brown’s arrest, he repeatedly punched and placed Cubbage, 34, in a chokehold. Owens said Cubbage was being held at the jail for allegedly trafficking heroin, fentanyl, and meth.

Owens said, “There was an exchange of words, and the end result was that the deputy attacked the inmate in a clear violation of all our training, protocols, and our policies.”

The entire incident was captured on video inside the dormitory. According to Brown’s arrest warrant, Cubbage received cuts, bruises, and scratches on his head, shoulders, and lower back area.

Brown, hired in February 2022, has been charged with misdemeanor battery and felony violation of oath of public office. Owens explained that Brown was still a recruit and had yet to complete the mandated training for sheriff’s deputies when the incident occurred.

Jail records for Brown indicated that he was being held at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center without bond, but Owens said he would be transported to another facility. Owens also said his office will be releasing the video shortly. “We will not tolerate abuse of power, and we will uphold laws equally and fairly, and that’s what I’d like to say we’ve done today,” Owens said. Community activist Sally Riddle, who works with the Cobb Coalition for Public Safety and the Cobb chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference commented on behalf of both organizations saying, “Today is a day where, while acknowledging the gravity of the inappropriate treatment of a Cobb County Detention Center detainee, we in the activist community laud the transparency and quick actions taken by the sheriff and his department.”