Incident between corrections deputy and inmate took place in August 2021
An internal affairs investigation by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), and review of Pierce County Sheriff’s Department criminal investigation by the Clark County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is continuing according to a report by the CCSO Thursday.
On Aug. 13, 2021 at about 6:30 a.m., corrections deputies attempted to gain compliance of an inmate to search his cell and retrieve food trays. The inmate was being housed in the jail’s maximum-security unit due to his history of violence including previous assaults on corrections deputies. During the cell search Corrections Deputy Robert Hanks used force to restrain the handcuffed inmate while others conducted the cell search. Hanks and other corrections deputies subsequently used force while removing the inmate’s handcuffs.
The Clark County Sheriff’s Office has a system of checks and balances on the application, documentation, and approval of each use of force incident. In the jail, this includes a multi-level review by supervisory chain-of-command (sergeant then commander) and review of video of the incident, if applicable.
In the process of this review, the commander determined the sergeant had not viewed the video as required, and upon the commander’s viewing of the video it was believed the uses of force were possibly excessive, and in the first instance at least, potentially criminal.
Due to policy and procedural violations, the corrections sergeant overseeing the review of force was subsequently disciplined. Upon Sheriff Chuck Atkins learning of this matter, Corrections Deputy Hanks was immediately placed on administrative leave. Hanks and the other corrections deputies involved were notified of pending criminal and internal affairs investigations into the incident. The matter was also immediately referred by Sheriff Atkins for a criminal investigation. The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department agreed to conduct the criminal investigation, with complete and total independence.
The Clark County Sheriff’s internal investigation has been awaiting completion of the criminal investigation, to ensure independence and due process — as well as accountability for the involved corrections deputies.
In a CCSO news release, it was stated that “Sheriff Atkins and jail command staff take the use of excessive force very seriously and it will not be tolerated. Once the alleged excessive use of force was identified, the corrections deputy was placed on disciplinary administrative leave, an internal investigation was opened, and an outside agency was contacted to conduct an independent criminal investigation to ensure impartiality. Sheriff Atkins relies on and believes in the processes of documenting and reviewing use of force and addressing allegations of excessive use of force. He values the importance of due process for all persons in employment or criminal context and continues to use these processes to build and maintain trust in the community.’’
Sheriff Atkins issued the following statement in this matter:
“Upon being notified of this incident, I viewed the video and was very troubled by what I observed. I know the importance of not jumping to conclusions or prejudging an incident based upon video alone. I did however, order that the matter be immediately referred to an outside agency for a criminal investigation. I have received a copy of that criminal investigation today, after it was delivered to Prosecuting Attorney Tony Golik’s Office. We will commence immediately with our internal affairs investigation, during such time that Mr. Golik considers the criminal investigation. I am committed to transparency of how my office handles the internal affairs investigation, and what if any disciplinary action that may follow – once that investigation is completed.”
This matter is pending the internal affairs investigation by the Sheriff’s Office, and review of Pierce County Sheriff’s Department criminal investigation by the Clark County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Information provided by Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
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