Excerpts from Use-of-Force Reports

(Note: These reports were obtained in 2018.)

Excerpts from Sullivan County jail use-of-force reports

Jan. 30 at 4:20 p.m.

Officer said he was working with a trustee in Unit 3 collecting and cleaning baskets from the cells. When he opened the door to cell 6, inmate came to the door and said, “I can’t live here get me out.” I told him to step back from the door at which point he pushed past me and started to walk down the hall. I told him to stop and took his arm to assist him back to a place where I could speak to him at which point he began to resist and I assisted him to the floor so I could control his actions. While I called for the door to cell 6 to close, I told him to give me his hands. He refused to give me his hands, saying, “No! Now go get my sh-t! You work for me! You work for me do it now!” Another officer then took hold of his other arm and we again told him to give us his hands and he complied. We were able to stand him up and I placed him cuffs and escorted him to booking. I went back to the cell and retrieved his belongings, when I looked under his bunk I found a jail issued razor.”

Feb. 27 at 2:26 a.m.

An officer conducting headcount learned an inmate covered a camera. The inmate had already covered the camera several times and was taken to the old visitation area to be secured while officers continued conducting a headcount. While officers spoke to the inmate, the man said he was going to kill himself and wanted to be placed on suicide watch. As the officers and man walked back to his cell to retrieve his items, they said he stopped and said he wasn’t going. He then grabbed the handles of a plumbing well on the wall and resisted letting go. The inmate refused to let go and was eventually struck in the knee, which lowered him to the ground onto a bed mat that was laying on the floor. One hand was freed from the plumbing, but he continued to hold on with his other hand. He was then struck at a pressure point behind his ear, which led him to comply with orders. He let go of the handle and was placed in handcuffs. He was placed on suicide watch and checked by medical staff. Medical staff cleared him with no injuries.

Jan. 1 at 2:55 p.m.

Officers responded to a fight in F cell. I called for the doors to be opened while giving verbal commands. When the door opened I ran in with the other officer while another officer stayed to guard the opened cell door. I grabbed inmate and forced him to the ground. The inmate responded with ‘I’m good, CO’ and was escorted out of the cell into OV where he was offered medical attention.”

Feb 7 at 2:06 p.m.

I took inmate out of holding 3 to be dressed out and brought up to unit 3. As we entered intake, inmate became agitated because I would not allow him to use the phone again. He began raising his voice and telling me that I was lucky I had a uniform on. I asked him to take a seat and let me do my job. He started getting louder and yelled “I was in the military, I served my f--king country.” I told him once again to let me and my fellow officers do our job. He responded by getting up while yelling so I placed my hands on his shoulders and escorted him down to the bench and held him there until other officers arrived. He calmed down and officers were able to complete the intake process.

March 1

I was in unit 3 when I heard a disturbance coming from cell 6. I noticed that inmate was rattling the door and yelling obscenities. I went over to talk to inmate and he started saying f--k you all and get me another tray. He then began cursing the other inmates in his cell and threatened to punch people in the face. In an effort to halt this disruptive behavior, I opened the door to remove inmate from the cell. He kicked a pile of stacked trays at me in order to protect myself and cease his aggressive behavior; I placed my hands on him and escorted him to the ground. An officer assisted him with handcuffing the inmate.

May 20

At 12:30 p.m. while on security check officer witnessed inmate bothering another inmate. The officer told the inmate to back away and leave the inmate alone. She refused to do so, I called another officer for assistance. The inmate was told to return to her mat and she replied f--k you I have to wake her up. The other officer escorted her back to her mat where she started shouting and moving her arms aggressively. The inmate lunged at the officer. The inmate was then escorted to the ground where she was advised to give the officers her hands. She refused, continued fighting and a burst of Freeze +P was administered. The inmate was handcuffed and escorted to booking where she was offered a shower.

Jan. 28

... inmate was served dinner with others in the tanks. Inmate later said he did not receive a tray. He was told he had been served. While pushing dinner carts to the housing area, inmate began kicking the door. He was told to stop. The inmate then began kicking the door again at which time the office opened the tank door and the inmate could be seen standing in a fighting stance with his fist up. The officer dispersed a second of Freeze +P to the inmate’s face. The inmate was removed from the tank, assisted to the floor and cuffed. An officer then went in the tank and found one tray for each inmate in the tank.

Excerpts from Bristol Virginia Jail use-of-force records

The Bristol Herald Courier obtained use-of-force records from the Bristol, Virginia, city jail for the first six months of the year. The city provided 15 reports, which featured incidents from the booking desk to the various jail blocks.

April 4 at 2:40 a.m.

Officer [redacted] of the Bristol Virginia Police Department brought [inmate] to the jail for intoxicated in public. The whole time [inmate] was in the booking area she was very belligerent. She was screaming and cussing most of the deputies and police officers. After being served her warrant, [inmate] was placed in the holding cell. While in the holding cell, she started complaining that she was having breathing problems. Dispatch was contacted by [officer] of the police department to call the Bristol Life Saving Crew. The crew arrived at 3:49 a.m. They checked her and deemed things to be all right. After the crew left, on numerous occasions, she started beating the phone receiver against the phone box. She was then placed in the restraint chair by [officers]. This occurred at 4:25. [Officer] then called medic. After deputy cleared out her female isolation cell, myself and [officer] moved [inmate] to female isolation. She was removed from the restraint chair at 4:45. After being placed in isolation she continued to cuss [officer] for a few minutes. She finally calmed down and quit causing problems.

March 7 at 2:40 p.m.

While entering into the jail I heard yelling and cussing coming from six block. At that time [officer] was coming inside with the trustee from trash run and radioed for someone to go to six block. When we got inside the building myself and [officer] ran upstairs to see what was going on and found inmate to be upset about something. Myself [other officers] ordered the block to lock down at this time some went in and some refused to. At this point inmates and started fighting with inmate. The inmates were ordered to break it up and they refused to at which deputy administered Sabre brand 10 percent oleoresin capsicum to regain control and prevent any injuries. [Inmates] were removed from the cell bock and placed in the hallway. These inmates were given immediate relief from the pepper spray by allowing them to use the sink to flush away the residue and a hallway fan to decontaminate. These inmates were spoken to by [officers] and asked about the situation. All advised inmate was disrespecting the inmates in cellblock six. At this time inmates were placed in the library to further the investigation.

March 7 at 1:15 p.m.

Inmate was in the magistrate’s office getting ready to be brought to the back of the jail. When inmate stood up from the chair, he then lowered himself and lunged toward [unknown person]. [Officer] and I took control of the inmate with necessary force and escorted [inmate] to two block second cell. [Inmate] was locked down until he calms down. No injuries were obtained by either the inmate or deputies.