Video of former DeSoto County corrections sergeant’s reported unlawful use of force against inmates
By WBBH Staff
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DESOTO COUNTY, Fla. (WBBH) — Video was released Tuesday in an update on a Dec. 13 incident that led to a DeSoto County corrections sergeant being fired and arrested.
According to the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office, Luis Tovar, 29, is accused of an unlawful use of force against two inmates in the DeSoto County Jail. The incident happened just before 1 a.m.
In the video, Tovar and two deputies escort an inmate to a cell where another inmate was. They told the second inmate that he would be moved from the cell.
The sheriff’s office said the second inmate did not comply with instructions and that led to a use of force. In the video, there is a scuffle between Tovar, a second deputy and the second inmate, which leads to Tovar’s camera falling off.
The first inmate is then moved into the cell and was being held by another deputy. Tovar is accused of shoving that inmate to the floor.
According to the sheriff’s office, in the video, the second inmate continues resisting after being taken out of the cell by another deputy. That deputy then hands the inmate to Tovar. The inmate appears to spit on Tovar, and Tovar is then accused of punching the inmate, according to the video.
Deputies were able to restrain the second inmate to a chair before Tovar is accused of attacking again.
The sheriff’s office said Tovar reported using force against two inmates and it led to an administrative review. It also was looked into criminally for any violations.
It was determined that Tovar would be arrested on two counts of battery and he was fired, according to the sheriff’s office.
Deputies said no inmates had any significant injuries, and that this is still under investigation.
Gulf Coast News is working to identify the inmates involved in the incident.
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