Indianapolis police sergeant indicted for stomping on handcuffed Black man’s face

An Indianapolis police officer was indicted by a federal grand jury on Tuesday (Oct. 18) for assaulting a person in September 2021. Based on the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace, Sgt. Eric Huxley was charged with “violating the civil rights of an arrestee by utilizing extreme power.” He’s additionally charged with misconduct and battery leading to reasonable bodily damage by Marion County prosecutors.

In newly launched bodycam footage, a person recognized as Jermaine Vaughn is proven handcuffed and on his again as one other officer holds him down as Huxley stomps down straight onto his face. Concurrently, the clip exhibits one other officer yelling at Vaughn, “You’re completed. You’re completed.” Surprised, Vaughn stays on the bottom as blood poured from his mouth.

A police affidavit revealed that the person stated he was exercising his proper to freedom of speech at Monument Circle when he engaged in a verbal back-and-forth with an officer. The officer exited his automobile and referred to as for backup; that was when Vaughn was arrested and assaulted. He was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, although the fees had been in the end dismissed.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Division Chief Randal Taylor stated he was assured the judicial system would deliver Vaughn and his household justice. “This incident was pointless and may have by no means occurred. I’d not tolerate this habits from any group member; Sergeant Huxley isn’t any exception. As regulation enforcement officers, we should perceive that this habits violates the group’s belief,” Taylor stated in an announcement obtained by MSNBC.

Pastor Lionel Rush of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Indianapolis referred to as the assault atrocious and nefarious. “To the credit score of this chief, they had been forthcoming, and they didn’t have to be put in a hammerlock to try this,” he instructed NBC Information.

Huxley, a 15-year veteran of the power, was instantly suspended with out pay. Taylor additionally advisable he face termination. Based on Huxley’s lawyer, John Kautzman, the officer is “sorry for any ache triggered to Mr. Vaughn because of his actions and the unfavourable scrutiny positioned on his division and fellow officers.” He additionally claimed, “This incident resulted from his notion of the want to try a educated police approach that sadly struck Mr. Vaughn in an unintended space of his physique.”

You possibly can view the graphic bodycam footage beneath.