Vermont State Police Investigating Finances of Sheriff-Elect

The finances of a Vermont sheriff's department and the sheriff-elect due to take office next week, who is already facing charges of abusing a shackled prisoner, are being investigated, the Vermont State Police said.

Franklin County sheriff-elect John Grismore is facing a simple assault charge in after authorities say he was seen on surveillance video kicking a prisoner. He is due to take office on Feb. 1.

In a Wednesday email, Grismore, who was fired in August as a captain in the sheriff's department, said he hadn't been in the office for six months.

I have no knowledge of any of this," he said.

State Police spokesman Adam Silverman said detectives began the investigation into the finances at the Franklin County Sheriffs Department and Sheriff-elect John Grismore" at the request of Vermont Auditor of Accounts Doug Hoffer. Silverman says the investigation is active and ongoing, but no further information is available.