Gwinnett officer cleared of allegations after using force to subdue an inmate

An officer in Gwinnett County who punched an inmate last month will not faces charges. An investigation determined that the officer at Phillips State Prison in Buford acted within the state’s use-of-force guidelines.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the incident began with a leaked video that showed a physical fight between the officer and the inmate. The officer, who has not been named, punched the inmate multiple times. In the video, the inmate appears to make the first physical move. Even after being restrained, he struggles against officers. One of the officers can be seen hitting him multiple times, even after the man is down.

Gwinnett District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson said that a complete review was conducted of the prison footage, as well as interviews with those involved and a tour of the facility. A statement released by Austin-Gatson said that, while it was “within use-of-force guidelines, it is critical that persons who are incarcerated are treated humanely.”