A Cook County correctional officer who authorities said was caught on video surveillance striking an inmate in June was charged with official misconduct today and had bail set at $10,000.



Rico Palomino, 40, who has worked as a correctional officer for 12 years, was charged in connection with an incident that occurred on June 16 in the Division 5 inmate receiving area of Cook County Jail, according to a Cook County State's Attorney's press release.



An inmate who was waiting to be processed left the lockup area and was attempting to walk down a hallway to retrieve a telephone number from his inventoried property, prosecutors said.

The inmate, who was facing misdemeanor charges, stopped at a desk where Palomino was sitting and asked him where the inventoried property was kept before continuing to walk down the hall, prosecutors said.



Palomino then got up from his desk, followed the inmate and asked him repeatedly to return to the lockup area or he was going to "(expletive) him up," prosecutors said.



When Palomino caught up with the inmate, he struck him in the face with his fist, causing the inmate to fall to the floor.

The inmate, who was then bleeding from the mouth, stood up and left the hallway with Palomino, prosecutors said.



Prosecutors said Palomino told the inmate to tell authorities that he tried to hit Palomino first, or Palomino would report the inmate tried to escape. The victim was treated at Cermak Health Services where he received stitches to the inside of his mouth for a laceration.



After the incident, Palomino, who tried to justify use of force, filed several reports with conflicting information that stated the victim turned and reached for Palomino's shirt.

But when investigators reviewed the jail security surveillance video, it showed the inmate did not make any aggressive moves toward Palomino, prosecutors said.



Palomino turned himself in today and his bail was set at $10,000 by Judge Adam Bourgeois. If convicted he faces 2 to 5 years in prison.



His next court date is scheduled for Aug. 23.



dawilliams@tribune.com

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