Terrence Debose was violently assaulted by 2 Cuyahoga County Jail Correctional officers in Cleveland Ohio as evidenced by recently released surveillance footage. Debose, a mentally-ill inmate, was punched in the head and face at eight times by prison guards who were supposed to be supervising him.
In the video, Corporal Nicholas Evans is standing next to the chair that Debose is strapped in and appears to switch off his body camera before assaulting Debose who looks to be shackled and bound to the chair. Debose was completely unable to defend himself during the 13 second attack.
They continued assaulting him even after this as A second corrections officer, Timothy Dugan, joined in punching Debose in the face.
The two officers punched Debose at least 8 times as he was strapped to the chair.
They left Dubose strapped to his chair for two hours bleeding after the assault.
Debose suffered a concussion as a result of the attack, which happened in March.
Evans has been charged with felonious assault that carries a potential eight-year prison sentence if he’s convicted.
Dugan is charged with misdemeanor assault. Both have been charged with violating Debose’s civil rights and have pleaded not guilty.
Debose was in jail for drug possession. Even after the assault Debose is still being held in the same jail where the beating took place.
His brother, Emanuel, said his brother called him soon after the attack happened to tell him what occurred. What’s truly terrifying is that this is a glimpse into an instance of brutality that is not uncommon in jails and prisons across the country.
Emanuel said the attack made him furious, and he hopes the officers charged in his brother’s beatings are fully prosecuted.
‘I want justice for him,’ he said of his brother. ‘They don’t have the right to do that. You see so much police brutality. I just want justice served at this point.’