After two inmates in the Greene County Jail got into a fight last week, a deputy investigating the incident was able to watch a replay of the fight since it was recorded on the jail’s video surveillance system.

The two inmates accused of fighting, Michael Howard Chitwood, 48, Linton, and Branden Shane Strauser, 37, Bloomfield, are both facing a preliminary charge of battery, a Class B misdemeanor.

Chitwood has been in jail since July 7 when he was arrested on a warrant issued on a petition to revoke his suspended sentence for felony operating a vehicle while intoxicated with endangerment.

Strauser has been in jail since May 26 when he was arrested on a warrant issued on a petition to revoke his suspended sentence for felony possession of methamphetamine.

Both inmates were housed in the jail’s “I Pod” when the altercation allegedly occurred on Tuesday, September 7.

Early the next day, GCSD Deputy James Carpenter was dispatched to investigate the incident.

Deputy Carpenter reported he viewed surveillance video which showed the two inmates got into a verbal argument at 5:26 p.m. About a minute later, Strauser got up off a chair and walked toward Chitwood’s bunk area, squared off with Chitwood in a boxing stance then when he jumped back, Chitwood began to follow Strauser.

Deputy Carpenter said while Chitwood was following Strauser, Strauser pushed on Chitwood several times and one time Chitwood tried to slap Strauser’s arm. Then Chitwood pulled his right arm back and hit Strauser with his fist. Strauser hit Chitwood back.

The sparring continued then Chitwood pushed Strauser down then pushed him into a bathroom wall. Strauser then backed away while Chitwood continued to follow trying to grab him.

By 5:31 p.m., Chitwood was going back to his bunk and Strauser sat back down at a table.

Deputy Carpenter reported he provided voluntary statement forms to the jail commander to give to the two inmates but after several days, he had not received a statement from either man.

Deputy Carpenter’s report does not say what the fight was about.