LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A former Pulaski County employee is suing the county and two others alleging his firing was retaliation and discrimination against him for speaking to police regarding a sexual assault of minors case.
Bryan Aldridge, who worked as a supervisor at the Pulaski County Juvenile Detention Center, filed the lawsuit on Jan. 9, 2024. In the lawsuit he alleges "retaliation, discrimination, and civil conspiracy."
He said in the lawsuit he was fired after 20 years of service after he provided a statement to police who were investigating Ronald Routh for allegations of sexual assault of minors that occurred at the facility.
Aldridge told police that he watched a video recording of Routh "sexually abusing a minor," according to a press release sent out by his lawyer. The lawsuit said that he, along with Routh and others, witnessed the video of Routh touching a juvenile between the legs sometime in May 2022.
When asked by Aldridge why the juvenile was touched there, Routh allegedly said he did it "to see if [the juvenile] was still hard." Aldridge would then report the incident to the PCJDC supervisory staff.
The lawsuit alleges that Routh would commit additional acts of sexual abuse in June 2022. Those were then reported to the Arkansas State Police, who initiated an investigation into Routh along with the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office.
Routh would later resign as director and is currently facing charges of sexual assault and misdemeanor harassment involving children. A jury trial is set to take place in May 2024 and Routh has pleaded innocent in the case.
The lawsuit also mentions that a juvenile told investigators that Routh took photos of him during a mandatory strip search and would ask questions about the genitalia of him and other juveniles at the facility.
After it became public knowledge he gave statements to police, Aldridge said he was "abruptly fired" and the county offered "no fewer than three different reasons for his termination."
The lawsuit alleges his firing violates portions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VII of the act does not allow employment discrimination "based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin."
Aldridge also claimed his firing was due to retaliation for reporting sexual misconduct in the workplace and his statements to police, which are protected under Title VII, according to the lawsuit.
In the suit, Aldridge reportedly filed charges of racial discrimination and retaliation on June 20, 2023 with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission regarding his firing on Feb. 9, 2023. In October of that year, the EEOC issued him a "right to sue" letter which has led to the lawsuit.
He is seeking $500,000 and to be reinstated as an employee at the juvenile facility "where he was a skilled, productive and well-respected supervisor."
When reached for comment, Pulaski County said at this time it does not comment on active litigation.