Man accused of slugging Dylann Roof in jail released on bond

Dwayne Marion Stafford, accused of assaulting the accused Emanuel AME Church shooter, Dylann Roof, earlier this week was released from the Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center Friday night.

According to the Charleston County Clerk of Court records, online, , Stafford was released at 8:27 p.m. His public defender-of-record, Joseph Kozelski III, could not be reached for comment Friday night. Stafford was being held on a $50,000 bond on the charge of strong arm robbery.

Charleston County Sheriff Al Cannon said on Thursday that Roof, 22, was taken from his protective custody cell at the Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center around 7:45 a.m. and walked downstairs to take a shower. Roof, as well as other inmates in that unit, are let out individually.

Before he was able to reach the showers, inmate Dwayne Stafford, 25, of Goose Creek ran downstairs and assaulted Roof by punching him multiple times, Cannon said during a Thursday afternoon press conference.

“He assaulted (Roof) for no reason,” Cannon said.

Cannon described Roof’s injuries as “relatively minor,” including bruising around his face and back. He said Roof was in a defensive posture during the assault and did not fight back.

The sheriff said Roof and his attorney have indicated they do not want to bring charges against Stafford. Cannon said the jail is investigating whether to file charges against Stafford for the assault, though it is difficult when witnesses are not cooperating.

This story was originally published August 5, 2016 at 9:58 PM with the headline "Man accused of slugging Dylann Roof in jail released on bond."