Corrections officer charged with allegedly assaulting inmate at Barnstable jail

A deputy corrections officer was arrested Friday after he allegedly assaulted an inmate at Barnstable County House of Corrections in May, officials announced. This is the second time within a year the officer was placed on leave due to pending assault charges, according to court records.

Gregory Djaoen, of New Bedford, will be arraigned in Falmouth District Court Monday, the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office said. Djaoen faces two counts of assault and battery, one count of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and one count of intimidation of a witness.

According to the DA, an inmate reported that Djaoen, 38, assaulted them on May 25 and 26, which prompted an investigation from the Massachusetts State Police earlier this month. The DA said security footage “assisted with the investigation.”

The Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement Friday that Djaoen was separated from inmates and placed on leave before the state police’s investigation began on June 2. The sheriff’s office mainly operates the Barnstable correctional facility.

“These charges concern an individual entrusted to the care and custody of the Barnstable County Correctional Facility and, if proven to be true, stand in stark contrast to the faithful service of the good men and women who so honorably represent the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office every day,” Sheriff Donna Buckley wrote.

The district attorney also said he asked New Bedford police to indefinitely suspend Djaoen’s license to carry due to the allegations.

Alleged road rage incident last year

Last summer, a Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office employee was placed on leave following an incident on Route 28, according to a release by the office that didn’t identify the officer by name. 

According to court records, it was Djaoen who was arrested in July and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and threats to commit a crime. He pleaded not guilty in court.

According to the police report, a man said he braked in the far left lane because Djaoen was driving too close to his car. The man reported that Djaoen then pointed his gun at him while they were both driving. Djaoen told police that his gun was just on the dashboard and slid, the report said.

According to court records, prosecutors dropped both charges against Djaoen in November.