Two southeast Alabama city employees have been charged for violating the state’s stay-at-home order amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Phenix City police on Thursday said two employees made available, and participated in, an unsanctioned sporting event Wednesday at a city-owned facility. That, said Capt. Joey Williams, was in violation of city policy, directives and Gov. Kay Ivey’s emergency order.

Both are employees of the city’s recreation center. Williams said they went to the track to do calisthenics, but rain drove them inside, where a pickup basketball game then took place.

Quadarius Devonte Woods (Phenix City Police)

That basketball game, Williams said, violated the prohibition of sports interaction with another person closer than six feet as well as activities that require use of shared sporting apparatus and equipment.

The City of Phenix City had put additional guidelines in for their employees, that stressed the importance of following these directives for the safety of the citizens of Phenix City, and its employees.

Williams identified the two employees as Tjai Deion Bryant, 35, and Quadarius Devonte Woods, 26. They are being charged with a Class C misdemeanor that will be handled in District Court.

The actions of the men as city employees, per the city’s guidelines, is being investigated separately and could result in their firings, Williams said.