Alabama Black man suing three Lauderdale County correctional officers for excessive force

Florence, Alabama Nov 29, 2023 (Issuewire.com) - A 55-year-old Black man is suing three correctional officers from the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office after he was assaulted while in jail. https://www.waff.com/2023/11/22/three-lauderdale-county-corrections-officers-facing-federal-lawsuit/

Jerry Minor has filed the federal lawsuit in Alabama with the help of National Civil Rights attorney Roderick Van Daniel.  According to the lawsuit, Minor was assaulted in May three ties in less than 45 minutes by different officers. The lawsuit names three officers, Christopher Hart, Devin Whitehead, and Nicholas Roach. https://big14news.com/lawsuit-claims-assault-on-jerry-minor/

Hart initially pepper sprayed Minor for knocking on the window of the Detox cell and asking to make a phone call, the lawsuit alleges. Subsequently, Minor was taken to the shower to wash off the pepper spray from his eyes and body. Out of emotional distress, Minor removed his underwear by throwing it into the hallway but onto the head of Roach, who then rushed to the shower and assaulted Minor along with Whitehead according to the claims in the lawsuit. https://spotonalabama.com/al-politics/1083455/black-man-suing-three-lauderdale-county.html

From the testimony of another officer, Whitehead specifically hit and kicked Minor in the head several times. Subsequently, after Minor was leaving the shower area, Whitehead again punched the elderly 55-year-old man multiple times in the face, threw Minor into a wall and slammed him into the ground with the help of other correctional officers, the suit alleges. 

"These officers were not satisfied with violating Mr. Minor's civil rights," said Van Daniel. "They wanted to show their dominance over an elderly inmate who just wanted to make a phone call which is his constitutional right.  Officer Whitehead kicked Mr. Minor in the head several times and punched him. This is inhumane. This has to stop. It is causing citizens of our community not to believe in our Criminal System. Criminal Reform has been a major issue for years in the State of Alabama and throughout the United States and it is continuing in 2023. It is time for a change."

Whitehead was terminated for excessive force by Sheriff Joe Hamilton, but Hart and Roach remain employed. Roach was suspended and told to complete de-escalation training, Hamilton said. https://www.alreporter.com/2023/11/22/black-man-suing-three-lauderdale-county-jail-correctional-officers-for-assault/

Minor is seeking relief for violations of state law for assault and battery, violations of his Fourth Amendment rights and deprivation of liberty for denying him access to make a telephone call and excessive force.  

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