MACHIAS, Maine — Washington County Sheriff Donnie Smith now believes that the reported Oct. 29 assault on Sgt. Troy Lyons, a Washington County corrections officer, outside the county jail may have never happened.
Smith said Thursday that Lyons has been suspended and that his employment may be terminated.
Lyons was treated the night of Nov. 1 at a local hospital for lacerations to his forehead and a bruised shoulder after he reported an assault that he said occurred at approximately 10:30 p.m while he was conducting a routine perimeter check.
“After a careful investigation we believe this did not happen,” Smith told The Bangor Daily News in an email. “I have suspended Sgt. Lyons and requested he take a polygraph so we could clear him of this issue. He was advised by the union not to participate. I have requested that his employment with the County of Washington be terminated.”
The question of termination, Smith said, will be on the agenda of the Dec. 13 meeting of the Washington County Commissioners.
Smith said Friday that the investigation into the alleged assault has concluded that Lyons’ injuries were self-inflicted.
Smith said Friday he’s uncertain what motive Lyons might have had for fabricating an assault report, “other than he is out of vacation and sick time.”