A Clermont County inmate was beaten without cause, including while handcuffed, in violation of his civil rights, according to a federal lawsuit filed Friday.

The inmate suffered a broken spine in three places, the suit says.

Seven guards at the Clermont County Jail are named in the suit for their roles in the February 2018 incident.

The inmate, Jared Schwartz, was being held before trial in a cell, the suit says, when three guards entered with a breakfast tray one morning.

Without reasonable cause to believe Schwartz was a threat, Officer Aaron Woollard threw Schwartz to the ground, the suit says. Three officers began beating him despite Schwartz holding a defenseless position, the suit adds.

Four other officers entered the cell. Officer Jeffrey Gaffney attempted to use pepper spray on Schwartz, the suit says, but the can malfunctioned. With the can in hand, Gaffney punched Schwartz in the face at least 10 times, according to a witness cited in the suit.

Gaffney, laughing, later told other officers he'd "teed off on (Schwartz's) face," the suit says.

After the beating, Schwartz was handcuffed and placed on his back, at which time Gaffney delivered several "knee strikes" to Schwartz's ribs, and at one point the guard said, "Here's one for the road," according to the suit. Another guard kicked Schwartz as he was cuffed.

Schwartz was next placed in a booking unit for more than seven hours before officers transferred him to a hospital, the suit says. He was later diagnosed with a broken rib, three fractured vertebra and renal failure, which can be life-threatening.

He spent about six days in intensive care.

None of the officers involved was reprimanded, the suit says.

The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of Ohio, calls for compensatory and punitive damages. It alleges excessive force, failure to protect and failure to supervise.

Defendants include the Clermont County Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Robert Leahy, Gaffney, Woollard and five other guards.

"This Office denies the allegations outlined in the suit filed," Clermont County Sheriff's Office spokesman Chris Stratton said. "This incident was immediately reviewed internally. All documentation related to this incident were also provided to the Clermont County Prosecutor’s Office for additional review."

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