A video of a McMinn County inmate experiencing health problems has gone viral. It shows inmate Christopher McClure of Athens having trouble holding up a phone to speak to a visitor yesterday. McClure is also seen shaking. McClure was processed into the jail August 23, 2018 for possession of meth for resale and two counts of violation of probation.

The person that took the video claims McClure was attacked in the jail Thursday night and was taken to the hospital for treatment. The visitor says McClure needs more medical treatment than what he is getting at the jail.

McMinn County Sheriff Joe Guy is standing by the jail medical staff and posted a statement on Facebook yesterday:

“While I cannot comment on specific inmate medical issues due to HIPAA laws, I will stand by our jail medical staff and my officers. McMinn Co has some of the best inmate health care around, and inmates who become sick or injured while in custody receive prompt and adequate care. Inmates who are seen by a hospital and released are returned to custody with follow up appointments if requested by the inmates physician. We care for sick inmates every day, and have a great record of doing so.

I might also mention that taking a cell phone into our visitation area is against our visitation rules, and photographs and videos taken inside a corrections facility can be illegal. Persons doing so, and who post such pictures and video, especially in a misleading way, will be banned from visitation, and if the District Attorney General agrees, may have charges placed against them.”