In April 2015, Officer Michael Key was involved in an incident at the Irondale City Jail where he used physical force, including striking an inmate’s head and applying a Taser, on a restrained inmate who was spitting at officers and claiming to have infectious diseases. The inmate suffered a broken jaw. The Irondale Use of Force Review Committee determined that Key’s actions were excessive, leading to a 60-day suspension without pay. Key appealed the suspension, and in 2017, the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals reversed the suspension, finding it inconsistent with the Personnel Board’s factual findings that Key’s actions were necessary to restrain the inmate. The court noted that while Key’s actions were not sadistic or malicious, they were at least reckless in nature.
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