The city of Birmingham has sued Jefferson County Sheriff Mark Pettway, alleging the sheriff refuses to take city inmates. According to the court documents, the issues began in October 2023 when Pettway would not accept city inmates to the county jail. The lawsuit says Pettway confirmed to Birmingham Police Chief Scott Thurmond and Mayor Randall Woodfin that it was Pettway’s policy to refuse inmates arrested from a warrantless arrest, or for misdemeanor offenses.