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Genevieve Miller | |
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ByLindy Thackston First Coast News
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Genevieve Miller says a JSO Corrections officer beat her during booking last March after she was arrested for marijuana possession. Miller's mug shot shows two black eyes and a broken nose.
Miller says after the beating, she was put in a restraining chair. "The officers, they would walk by and laugh at me, they would point at me, point at their nose and laugh, they would raise their fist at me, and I just had to sit there," said Miller.
Miller's police report shows she wasn't resisting arrest. She filed a report with Internal Affairs, but the corrections officer was exonerated of any charges.
Genevieve isn't the only person who has claimed abuse. 50,000 people are arrested every year in Jacksonville, but the Chief of the Jail says less than one percent require the use of force.
"When physical resistance is offered to a lawful command, that's the rule we use for using force," said Tara Wildes.
Wildes says officers can also use force as self-defense. But sometimes more force than necessary is used.
Former Corrections Officer Edward Mincey was indicted in January on charges he kicked an inmate in the head.
In December, federal investigations were launched into the deaths of two men in JSO custody.
Just this week, another inmate, John Laughon, was taken to the hospital after a struggle with officers.
Police say he's mentally ill, but Laughon's brother in law, Tony Seara, says he was having a seizure. "There's reports that he's this huge man with superhuman strength, that he attacked these guards and that's why he's in the hospital," said Seara. "He's not that big of a person - maybe 145 pounds."
Laughon has cracked ribs, and a collapsed lung. He remain unconscious at the hospital.
There are video cameras in the jail, but they are used as monitoring devices, and do not record activities.
Wildes says the number of times force is used has steadily dropped since 1996, even though the number of inmates has increased.
Wildes also says corrections officers are required to attend in-service training on interpersonal skills.
Created: 2/23/2005 5:51:13 PM Updated: 2/24/2005 12:00:59 AM © 2006 First Coast News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten, or redistributed.
NOTES:
This incident involved 2 female officer/guards. Of course the guard who hit Miller was not punished.
The report states she was not resisting arrest and it also says "Miller says after the beating, she was put in a restraining chair. "The officers, they would walk by and laugh at me, they would point at me, point at their nose and laugh, they would raise their fist at me, and I just had to sit there," said Miller." They MENTALLY ABUSED her. Her alledged crime? POSSESSION! They must hate marijuana smokers in Jacksonville, Florida. I wonder what will happen when they legalize marijuana. We all know it's a matter of time. Did you know marijuana can help with SEIZURES?
In this article they discus cameras in the jails saying, "There are video cameras in the jail, but they are used as monitoring devices, and do not record activities." I came across another article saying they used the video tapes as evidence against an inmate. I will post it when I find it again. I guess they only tape when it suits their needs. God forbid they could prove one or more of their own were abusing inmates.
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