The state attorney’s office today filed felony charges against a former Escambia County sheriff’s deputy accused of beating and stomping handcuffed suspects during two arrests. James Sullivan is charged with: -- Aggravated battery and battery stemming from an incident that occurred when a DUI hit-and-run suspect Jereme Mann was struck over the head with a flashlight while detained and handcuffed on Dec. 29, 2004. -- Felony battery from an incident that occurred on Feb. 5, 2005, involving assault suspect Timothy Tabor.  Sullivan’s attorney, Jim Jenkins, said Sullivan plans to surrender to authorities and plead not guilty to the charges. He said "Mr. Sullivan’s positions are that he acted within the parameters of proper police conduct.” Sullivan resigned in March 2005 before a Sheriff’s Office Internal Affairs investigation was completed. But a complaint filed last month with the state attorney’s office initiated a criminal probe into the Tabor incident. Describing three incidents of excessive force used on handcuffed suspects, the Internal Affairs report found that Sullivan violated several Sheriff’s Office policies and “committed criminal violations including three counts of aggravated battery and tampering with evidence,” the report stated. [more]