BELTON, Texas — In March, KCEN Channel 6 reported two Bell County jailers were fired after they were charged with assault with bodily injury and violation of civil rights of a person in custody. According to arrest affidavits filed on March 18, former jailers Kelvin Miller and Terrance Gardner kicked and punched an "unruly" inmate, who was high on methamphetamine, while he was handcuffed behind his back.
RELATED: Two Bell County jailers fired after assault with bodily injury and violation of civil rights charges
KCEN Channel 6 requested the jailhouse video of the beating from March 14.
Monday, we got the video.
*WARNING: This video is not suitable for all viewers*
The video below shows three angles of the incident at Bell County Jail on March 14. The second angle starts at 7:21, and the third at 8:59. The third angle shows Pratt getting thrown into a padded cell. That's when jailers started to kick and punch him.
The inmate who was beaten, 23-year-old Jvareus Pratt, filed a lawsuit against Miller and Gardner on April 8. The suit said both jailers used excessive force that violated Pratt's Fourth and 14th Amendment rights and that he "has suffered physical injury, pain and mental anguish" from the beating.
Miller and Gardner both filed a counterclaim against Pratt on June 10 and 11, respectively. The counterclaims denied many of Pratt's accusations, and they said Pratt had assaulted the jailers, and they had injuries as a result. Additionally, the counterclaims said the jailers were acting in self-defense and protecting the other deputies trying to restrain Pratt.
Pratt's attorneys filed answers to the counterclaims on Friday. According to those court documents, Pratt has filed a motion to dismiss the former jailers' counterclaims.
In the counterclaims, both Miller and Gardner denied that Pratt had injuries to his face, ear, shoulder, arm, wrists, torso, knee and back as a result of them beating him.
The Texas Ranger who investigated the beating said he took photos of many bruises and cuts on Pratt's face, arm and torso, an arrest affidavit said.
James Roberts, one of Pratt's attorneys, sent KCEN Channel 6 the following statement:
"Mr. Pratt was the victim of outrageous and unacceptable police brutality in the Bell County Jail. In Texas, those who are incarcerated do not lose their dignity and safety as a form of punishment. However, these two Bell County Employees abused their power over Mr. Pratt in a way that took both from him. He was defenseless on the ground with his hands behind his back as they repeatedly punched and kicked him. We cannot stand for this type of behavior from those entrusted with power and control. Mr. Pratt’s lawsuit demonstrates that we as a society will demand justice."
KCEN Channel 6 reached out to Miller and Gardner for comment, however, we haven't heard back from them yet.
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