So for July we’ve chosen the case from Berrien County, Tennessee where the former sheriff pled guilty to beating up prisoners in-custody. These prisoners were in handcuffs and were not resisting or threatening anyone. Here’s an excerpt from the local news:
According to Heath’s guilty plea, on Jan. 12, 2012, Heath and deputies from the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office were engaged in a foot chase of an individual identified only as M.V., who had been banned from traveling through the county. During the chase, Heath saw M.V. and called out to him, “You better not run or I will beat your a**,” or words to that effect, according to the justice department. M.V. reportedly responded by running into a nearby wooded area.
Heath and deputies followed M.V. into the woods, where a deputy eventually saw M.V. and arrested him without incident. When a deputy reported that M.V. was in custody, Heath reportedly ordered deputies to wait and hold M.V. in the woods. When Heath arrived, M.V. was lying face down on the ground, with his hands handcuffed behind his back and was not resisting arrest, according to the press release.
Heath kicked M.V. in the ribs, punched him in the head with a closed fist multiple times and forcefully kneed him in the ribs multiple times, causing M.V. to experience pain and have difficulty breathing, according to the justice department.
Read the whole thing. The former sheriff, Anthony Heath, is facing two counts of violating civil rights under the color of law. Each count carries a maximum sentence of ten years, but the actual sentence is expected to be far less.
We are of course aware of several officer-involved shootings last month that received national and international attention. Alton Sterling was killed in Baton Rouge; Philando Castile was killed in Minnesota; Paul O’Neal was killed in Chicago; and Charles Kinsey was shot and wounded in North Miami. The investigations into these incidents are underway and we will, as usual, be posting updates.
Worst of the Month — July is a post from PoliceMisconduct.net