Meck County Sheriff settles in gender discrimination lawsuit, former detention officer paid lost wages

CHARLOTTE, N.C. ( QUEEN CITY NEWS ) — A former detention officer with the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office reached a settlement in a gender discrimination lawsuit against Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden.

The lawsuit, filed by Chandler Craig and her attorney, alleged that she was treated unfavorably compared to her male colleagues after a single alleged incident of excessive force. Craig alleged that male detention officers were involved in more severe physical altercations with inmates and were not terminated nor publicly charged.

Queen City News reported that back in 2021, Craig was previously fired and charged after allegedly assaulting an inmate and writing up false reports of the incident. Those charges were later dropped.

Sheriff McFadden had issued a press release following the incident involving Craig but not for incidents involving male officers, the lawsuit stated.

The case was settled last Friday. As part of the settlement, McFadden agreed to rescind Craig’s termination, amend her employment file, and pay an amount that exceeds her lost wages during the year following her termination.

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