Milton juvenile facility worker arrested

The Milton Girls Juvenile Residential Facility is a moderate risk, 60-bed commitment program for the Department of Juvenile Justice serving females ages 13-18. Shannon Linn Abbott, an employee of the facility, is charged with battery on a resident back on Aug. 9, 2012. She was arrested on Dec. 4 following an ongoing investigation by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office.

A worker at the Milton Girls Juvenile Residential Facility was arrested on Tuesday of this week and charged with battery of a client.

Shannon Linn Abbott, 33, of Milton, was arrested on the battery charge stemming from an incident, which allegedly occurred on Aug. 9 of this year.

Abbott has been released from the Santa Rosa County Jail after posting a bond of $2,500.

Attempts to contact the Gulf Coast Youth Services in Ft. Walton Beach to see if Abbott is still on staff have been unsuccessful at this time.

According to the warrant obtained from the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office, Abbott allegedly is seen in two security camera videos leading the victim with their arm secured – "the defendant's arm was under the victim's arm at the elbow from behind."

Investigators in their report indicate the victim shows no signs of resisting to Abbott.

"The victim is observed not pulling her arms away from the defendant; the victim is not attempting to strike the defendant in any manner and is compliant throughout the entire event."

According to the warrant/arrest report, Abbott is alleged to have stopped the victim facing a wall and is observed repositioning her current grip on the victims arm hold.

"The defendant's forearms are now wrapped around the victim's arms at her elbows with the defendant's hands clinched together and positioned into the middle of the victim's back," stated the report. "After (Abbott) repositions her grip she moved her stance closer to the victim from behind."

According to investigator Larry Tynes' report, the victim was about two feet away from the cement cinder block wall when Abbott allegedly thrusts herself toward the victim in a very forceful manner, using her upper and lower body strength, pushing the victim violently into the cement wall.

Tynes report reiterates prior to this action the victim is observed in a compliant state and is not moving or resisting.

The report stated the victim's chest area and chin bouncing off the wall.

A few seconds later with the victim still against the wall Abbott is reported to be speaking into the victim's left ear.

"Seconds later the defendant stops speaking to the victim and pulls the victim with great force and violently throws the victim to the floor while restraining the victim's arms behind their back."

Abbott is alleged to have landed on top of the victim's back with her full weight.

The report indicated the victim weighs 148 pounds and that Abbott's observed size is much greater than the victim's as depicted in the video.

When investigators attempted to speak to Abbott she stated she was going to have a lawyer present before she spoke.

Abbott never contacted the investigators attached to the case after Nov. 14.

According to a report submitted by Abbott on Aug. 9, 2012, to the Milton Girls Juvenile Residential Facility Director Carol Andrus, Abbott alleged the victim struggled and hit her with her elbow several times.

Abbott indicated in the Protective Action Response form that she asked the victim to stop and she would strike her harder and resisted to get her arms free.

Investigators in their report indicated this statement by Abbott was not depicted on the video received by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office.

According to the Gulf Coast Youth Services' website, the Milton Girls Juvenile Residential Facility is a moderate risk, 60-bed commitment program for the Department of Juvenile Justice serving females ages 13-18.

This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Milton juvenile facility worker arrested