Jail video leads to suspensions of three guards
New cameras reveal excessive force used during fight, sheriff says
Three Harris County jail employees have been suspended for “punching” and using other force during an altercation with an inmate this week, Sheriff Ron Hickman said Wednesday.
New camera equipment installed at the Harris County jail provided evidence in the incident, he said.
According to authorities, inmate Jerome Bartee assaulted a detention officer about 7:30 p.m. Sept. 4 in the medical clinic of the 1200 Baker St. lockup. Several staff members responded to the struggle to subdue the 28-year-old inmate.
“We feel that that part of it was not done properly,” Hickman said. “We feel there was punching involved that was not necessary.”
A supervisor de-escalated the encounter, which the sheriff described as an “unnecessary application of force.”
The county’s top lawman offered details about the melee, the internal investigation and the suspensions during a news conference.
Bartee was treated at a local hospital for lacerations to his face, which was the reason for his visit to the jail’s clinic. According to the Harris County District Clerk’s office, he was charged Sunday with one count of assault on a public servant.
Harris County records show that Wednesday night Bartee was released from the jail on a $10,000 bond.
Bartee had been in custody following a Saturday night arrest on a cocaine possession charge and one count of being a felon in possession of a weapon.
The Harris County Sheriff ’s Office conducted an internal affairs investigation into the altercation and has turned over evidence to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office for potential review by a grand jury.
Hickman said he is not releasing footage of the incident because he does not want to “compromise the DA’s investigation.”
The sheriff touted a recent $5 million upgrade of high-definition video camera equipment as part of his effort to reform the jail, which has been long criticized for inmate mistreatment.
“This single tool is what made this investigation swift and decisive,” Hickman said. “We’ve been very hopeful that this helps change the culture in the jail on both sides. … It will also hold our people accountable — when you know you’re being videoed by that eye in the sky.”