Over a year after a jailhouse beating that left a Jefferson County inmate seriously injured, 1819 News has obtained personnel documents, an incident report and video of the brutal beating.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office refused for months to answer questions surrounding the actions of three deputies involved in the incident, and it is unclear if the beating was reported to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA).
However, after a public records request, the Jefferson County Personnel Board sent employee disciplinary action files to 1819 News. Deputies who said they were shocked by how the sheriff’s office handled the disciplinary portion of the investigation provided surveillance video.
The files show that at least three deputies responded on June 11, 2023, to an inmate accused of flooding his cell by stopping up the toilet. The inmate refused to leave the cell and was pepper sprayed, tased, struck nearly 100 times with batons and kicked while on the ground.
Deputies had to leave the room and come back three times because they were overwhelmed with pepper spray. On the third time, they reported the inmate tried to bite one of the deputies, so they tased him.
The inmate was finally put into handcuffs, and video shows he appeared to be unconscious while deputies dragged him into a day room with his pants down.
According to personnel records, two of the deputies were disciplined.
The deputy accused of striking the inmate 58 times with a baton and kicking him nine times was suspended for 30 days for use of excessive force and five days without pay for failure to notify a supervisor.
The other deputy was accused of striking the inmate 25 times with a baton and tasing him. He was given the same punishment.
Deputies who asked to remain anonymous due to fear of retaliation told 1819 News the deputies were given special treatment and should have been given more than 35 days off work.
“If you look at others that have done things, you will see people get dismissed or fired for these things,” a deputy told 1819 News. “One deputy got fired right off the bat for slapping an inmate. There are inconsistencies with discipline. This should have been felony indictments.”
The inmate was transported to UAB Hospital, where he was treated for serious injuries.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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