COLUMBIA, SC — Four more detention officers have been recommended for termination in connection with last month’s beating of a homeless man at Richland County’s jail, officials said Wednesday.

The officers at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center have not been identified. They have been placed on administrative leave without pay pending completion of termination proceedings, said Stephany Snowden, who was speaking on behalf of county administrator Tony McDonald.

The officers failed to report the incident, Snowden said.

“The reason why they have been placed on administrative leave and are being recommended for termination is for their failure to follow the policy to report the use of force,” Snowden said.

No criminal charges have been filed against any of the four guards.

Last week, Richland County Sheriff’s Department deputies arrested guard Robin Smith, 37, and charged him with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature in a stomping incident involving a homeless man. County officials also fired Smith, who had worked for two years at the detention center.

The 51-year-old homeless man – The State newspaper is not releasing his name – wound up in jail Feb. 7 on a trespassing charge after he was found sleeping in a University of South Carolina building doorway at LeConte College in the 1500 block of Greene Street. He is now in Palmetto Health Richland hospital suffering from a collapsed lung, two broken ribs, a fractured vertebra and various internal injuries.

“The person could possibly die as a result of their injuries,” Sheriff’s Department Capt. Chris Cowan said this week.

Although the jail assault happened Feb. 11, the injured inmate was not taken to the hospital until Feb. 15. And it wasn’t until Feb. 21 that the sheriff’s department learned of the incident when a hospital worker contacted law enforcement, Cowan said last week.

Richland County, not the sheriff’s department, manages the jail, which is used by the sheriff’s department and police departments in the cities of Columbia, Forest Acres and Arcadia Lakes.

Snowden said county officials continue to cooperate with the sheriff’s department in an ongoing investigation of what happened to the homeless man.

Ronaldo Myers, the jail’s director, referred all questions to Snowden.

Cowan, contacted Wednesday, said his department is aware of the four additional guards who were removed from their posts and is continuing to investigate.

“We’re still conducting our investigation to figure out what happened, why it happened, and who allowed it to happen,” Cowan said.

Smith faces a bond hearing today at the Richland County courthouse.

Reach Monk at (803) 771-8344.