NEWS BRIEF: County sheriff wants excessive force charges dismissed
Lack of precedent for excessive force?
Photo credit: Gwinnett County Sheriff's Dept
The lack of a precedent was cited Monday by a defense attorney as justification for dismissing charges against a Clayton County sheriff accused of excessive force. A federal grand jury indicted Victor Hill in April for violating the civil rights of four people by having them restrained in chairs at the county jail. Hill’s lawyer, Lynsey Barron, argued that the U.S. Department of Justice has never prosecuted anyone on a similar charge. A federal prosecutor responded that Hill clearly used excessive force against people in custody as punishment, without justification. The indictment alleges that the men held in restraint chairs for hours — suffering pain and injuries — posed no threat and had complied with deputies’ orders. seattletimes.com