Among them are three law enforcement officers and the former director of a youth detention center.

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DALTON, Ga. — Five state employees with Georgia's Department of Juvenile Justice are facing charges related to the death of a 16-year-old in custody at a youth detention center in Dalton last year.

Among them are three law enforcement officers and the former director of the detention center.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced the indictment, which happened earlier this week, in a news release Friday.

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Alexis Sluder of Ellijay, the 16-year-old, died on August 27, 2022 at the Dalton Youth Detention Center. The exact circumstances of Sluder's death were not detailed by the GBI.

The five DJJ employees now facing charges include:

• Maveis Brooks, sergeant, age 35, of Calhoun, GA – 2 counts of first-degree cruelty to children and 1 count of second-degree cruelty to children
• Russell Ballard, cadet, age 62, of Chatsworth, GA – 2 counts of first-degree cruelty to children and 1 count of second-degree cruelty to children
• Rebecka Phillips, officer, age 45, of Chatsworth, GA – 2 counts of first-degree cruelty to children and 1 count of second-degree cruelty to children
• Monica Hedrick, nurse, age 62, Ringgold, GA – 1 count of second-degree cruelty to children
• David McKinney, Detention Center Director, age 53, of Rome, GA – 1...

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