LAKE CITY, Fla. -- A Columbia County Sheriff's Office Detention Officer has been arrested on charges that he battered an inmate.

On June 30, allegations were made against Detention Officer Michael Hegenauer, according to a news release from Columbia County Sheriff's Office Public Information Sergeant Ed Seifert.

Seifert said because the allegations were when Hegenauer was on duty, he was placed on unpaid administrative leave from the Detention Facility.

Columbia County Sheriff Mark Hunter then had his department begin an internal investigation into the misconduct allegations. Sheriff Hunter also asked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to investigate since the allegations could potentially be criminal.

The FDLE investigation found there was enough probable cause to issue a warrant for Hegenauer's arrest. The charge was for aiding and abetting battery on an inmate.

Seifert said Hegenauer turned himself into Suwannee County Jail where he is being held on $10,000 bond.

Michael Hegenauer has been a Detention Officer with the Columbia County Sheriff's Office since March of 2011.

First Coast News