BONNERS FERRY — A former Boundary County Sheriff’s Office deputy has been charged with battery after claims he battered an inmate in 2023. 

Karl Clifford Green, 52, pleaded not guilty to one felony count of aggravated battery during his initial appearance Jan. 26. 

Green’s is scheduled to appear in court Feb. 13 for a probable cause hearing, where prosecutors will present evidence to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to proceed to trial. Court documents indicate that he is currently out of custody.  

According to an affidavit filed by BCSO Detective Nick Delavan, the alleged incident occurred Oct. 20, 2023, after a female inmate began pounding on her cell door and yelling. As Green opened the cell door to attend to the inmate, court documents suggest she attempted to move past him. 

The affidavit indicates Green pushed the inmate back into the cell and she became compliant, raising her hands. Green then allegedly grabbed the woman’s left arm, pinned it behind her back and instructed her to give him her other arm, which she did. She was then handcuffed. 

According to court documents, Green allegedly told the inmate, “Don’t ever make a move on a deputy like that. Next time you’re getting face planted.” 

The inmate then cursed at Green, who then allegedly slammed her into a filing cabinet. Another BCSO officer approached and the inmate was told her handcuffs would be removed. 

In his report, Green stated he slipped on a wet towel, causing both him and the inmate to slide into the filing cabinet, according to the affidavit. However, court documents indicate there is no video evidence showing Green slipping and that the inmate was not fighting him. 

Medical records show the inmate went to the hospital the following day. The treating physician reported the inmate suffered a neck sprain, sprains and bruises to her shoulder and elbow and bruises to her face and left hip. No fractures were reported, according to the documents 

The inmate later reported a torn rotator cuff and that six of her teeth died due to the alleged incident, contending that her quality of life has been affected.  

Pulp necrosis, according to the Cleveland Clinic, occurs when the tissue inside a tooth dies. The condition has no cure, but a root canal can be performed to relieve pain. 

The Herald reached out to Boundary County Sheriff Travis Stolley about the alleged incident, as it’s the second reported allegation of a detention officer committing battery on an inmate in recent months. Both alleged offenses occurred in 2023. Stolley said he became aware of the situation with Green before taking office but said gathering the facts of any case takes time. 

“When I became aware of the facts of the case, I just felt like we needed to investigate it and make the proper referral if appropriate,” Stolley said. “That's what we chose to do. ... I don’t really care about the optics of it; I just care that we do the right thing. We’re just making sure there’s accountability across the board.”  

Stolley said that at the end of the day, the department is here to serve the community and to keep guards, inmates and civilians safe. 

“I take that responsibility very seriously,” Stolley said. “I have all the faith and trust in the guys that we have working back there right now to do the right thing. They know what the expectation is and they do a really, really great job and I support them.”