A former Louisville Metro Department of Corrections (LMDC) officer has been found guilty in federal court of using excessive force on an inmate.
Darrell Taylor, 32, was found guilty of using unlawful force against a pretrial detainee, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky.
Evidence presented at trial included a video showing the defendant’s assault of the detainee. On the video, Taylor can be seen grabbing the detainee and throwing him to the ground, and then punching the detainee repeatedly in the face and head until he appears to lose consciousness, prosecutors said. Taylor then lifts the detainee’s limp body and slams him face-first into the ground.
At trial, according to prosecutors, the director of LMDC testified that the force depicted on the video was inconsistent with training provided to every LMDC officer.
The detainee, identified in charging documents only as B.R., did not testify. However, evidence at trial revealed that he suffered serious injuries, including a broken and displaced jaw.
“Every person in our nation’s jails and prisons has the right to be free from excessive force by corrections officers,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “With its verdict, the jury makes clear that corrections officers will be held accountable for beating and abusing the people in their custody.”
Taylor faces up to 10 years in prison when he’s sentenced in January.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
