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Sheriff’s Office Investigates Jailers Seen Punching Detained Man

The newly-released video shows jailers repeatedly beating a 41-year-old Black man

The attorney for a 41-year-old Black man who was beaten by jailers after being booked for traffic violations and drug possession charges has released video footage of the brutal attack.

Per the AP News, the man, Jarrett Hobbs, was pushed against a wall by guards and repeatedly punched in the head and neck by five deputies who came into his cell. His attorney, Harry Daniels, released the footage and says that authorities should pursue criminal charges against the sheriff’s deputies who beat his client on September 3.

“It’s undeniable that Mr. Hobbs was approached by jailers and he was assaulted, punched multiple times in the back of his head, kneed in his head and dragged out of his cell,” Daniels said, per the AP. “This is a brutal beating, a brutal attack.”

The beating occurred in the Camden County jail and the Sheriff Jim Proctor’s office has ordered an internal investigation “to begin immediately.” The sheriff’s office did not, however, release the officer’s names or any identifying characteristics—including race.

Hobbs was arrested in Camden County, Georgia about 100 miles of Savannah. The North Carolina man was initially charged with speeding, driving on a suspended or revoked license and possessing an illegal drug. He was later charged with aggravated battery, simple assault and obstruction of law enforcement officers after the attack.

No details as to why the attack took place have been released. However, the AP notes that court documents from North Carolina where Hobbs was on probation for a previous offense say that he was allegedly repeatedly kicking his cell door and ignored orders to stop.

In the video, Hobbs is initially seen alone in the cell bending over to pick up two items which his attorney says were a piece of paper and a sandwich when an officer comes into the cell attempting to push him into a corner—four others follow. They are then seen pummeling the man in an attack that last approximately one minute. The version of the footage that was released has no audio, but Daniels says that he has one with sound, but has not shared it.

The incident was entered in Hobbs’ record in the case that he is on probation for where it is alleged that he punched one deputy in the face while punching another deputy in the side of the head. One deputy sustained a bruised eye and a broken hand as a result of the incident.” It also noted that Hobbs was punched in the head and that the probation officer was “unaware of the exact sequence of events,” per the AP.

However, Daniels notes that Hobbs would have been within his rights to fight back if he was being attacked unlawfully and that the officer who broke his hand did so when he punched a wall while swinging at Hobbs.

While the court has dismissed the alleged probation violations related to the Georgia incident, Hobbs’ probation has since been revoked and he remains in federal custody in North Carolina.

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