Four Florida prison officers denied bond in death of mentally ill prisoner who flung urine
Miami HeraldSep 23, 2022
Four state corrections officers accused of beating to death a prisoner at the
The decision to keep the officers jailed came after the lead investigator testified it took them more than five minutes to escort the prisoner —a diminutive man with mental problems — down a 80-yard walkway that had no surveillance cameras.
When
The four prison officers were charged in April with second-degree murder, conspiracy, aggravated battery of an elderly adult and cruel treatment of a detainee. Friday’s hearing before
“All of these individuals were beating this man to death, together,” Pooler said. “The fact that it was out of camera range indicates to me it’s something they know that was wrong and wanted to hide.”
The
Read More: 10 officers on leave, one resigned, after Dade Correctional inmate dies in prison van
Ingram — a diagnosed schizophrenic serving a life sentence for murder — was beaten, according to prosecutors and defense attorneys, after he tossed urine on one of the guards while refusing to comply with orders to leave his cell for the transfer early in the morning hours of
Defense attorneys for the guards argued that the state’s attempt to deny bond was based simply on hearsay and failed to prove intent. They said there was no DNA linking Ingram to any of the guards and said other guards who may have been involved were giving statements after being offered immunity.
At one point during Friday’s hearing, attorney
“I’d have to defer to the state,” said the FDLE agent.
“Mr Ingram died a terrible death,” Martinez told the judge before her decision. “But they have to prove who did it and intent.”
No one at any time testified or said they noticed Ingram incapacitated during the trip. He did not exit the van during the two stops, witnesses said. Yet the four guards have denied using any type of excessive force that could have killed Ingram.
According to statements from other guards and the warrant for the officer’s arrests, Ingram was approached in his single cell in the prison’s mental health unit by Godbolt and another guard at about
Then at
Vandergiesen said a witness said Godbolt told her that he’d [Ingram] “never throw piss on another person again.”
Prosecutors claim Sgt. Godbolt slapped Ingram repeatedly and that other officers joined in, even though Ingram “was handcuffed and not fighting back,” one witness said. After crumpling to the ground, the warrant says, the officers continued to “kick and stomp” Ingram. When he finally got up, three officers continued to “strike” and taunt him.
Multiple witnesses said the officers conspired to lie about the incident. Rolon allegedly told one officer “don’t worry about anything... they have to prove everything first,” the warrant said.
Several family members of officers attended the hearing. Godbolt’s father, a pastor, said his son wasn’t violent and that he’d never even heard him swear. The girlfriend of another guard said if her boyfriend went to prison, she’d likely have to move out of the home they share with a child.
The testimony didn’t sway
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