Now-former Marion County detention officer accused of ‘maliciously’ using pepper spray on female inmate
MARION COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — A now-former Marion County detention officer is facing charges after allegedly injuring a female inmate by “maliciously” using pepper spray, authorities said.
Nekenya Chiquita Taylor, 47, is charged with third-degree assault and battery and misconduct in office, according to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, which was asked to investigate by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. The is the second former Marion County officer arrested this week.
The alleged incident happened on May 1 at the Marion County Detention Center, according to warrants provided to News13 by SLED. The incident caused “burning to the inmates’s eyes and face.”
Taylor was arrested on Wednesday and booked into the detention center, online records show. She posted a $4,087 bond and was released the next day.
SLED indicated that Taylor is no longer employed by the sheriff’s office. The case will be prosecuted by the 12th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.
Taylor is the second Marion County officer to be charged with a crime this week. Kyle Michael Kelly was arrested on Thursday and charged with third-degree assault and battery and misconduct in office. He was booked into the detention center and released the same day after posting a $12,125 bond.
According to SLED, Kelly allegedly grabbed a man by the throat and punched him in the face at the detention center. The incident happened in April when Kelly arrested a man for public intoxication.
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Dennis Bright is a Digital Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on, Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here.
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