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lite.cnn.com - on gopher - inofficial
ARTICLE VIEW:
Video shows 3 jailers watch as officer wrapped chain around
detainee’s neck and briefly choked him, lawsuit says
By Shawn Nottingham, CNN
Updated:
3:42 PM EDT, Thu April 18, 2024
Source: CNN
A surveillance video showing a jailer wrapping a chain around the neck
of an inmate whose attorneys say was briefly choked is part of a civil
rights lawsuit filed against three correctional officers this week in
federal court in Brunswick, Georgia.
Attorneys for plaintiff Tremar Harris provided CNN with the video from
January 2022, which they say they obtained during their investigation.
Harris, a 37-year-old Black man, was a pre-trial detainee in solitary
confinement at the Appling County jail two years ago, according to
court documents.
The suit alleges Officer William Rentz – who is the defendant in a
separate suit – placed “the chain of an unused leg restraint”
across Harris’ throat when the inmate was restrained in a chair.
Then, Rentz “pulled the chain” against Harris’ throat and
“strangled” him for a few seconds before letting go of the chain,
according to the lawsuit.
Video of the incident shows the chain around Harris’ neck for about 4
seconds.
Officers Daydan Brannon, Cannon Mcleod and Ansley Fennell failed to
intervene or stop Rentz “from engaging in such an awful, unlawful,
hateful, and sadistic act,” the lawsuit stated, saying the defendants
“had the ability, opportunity, skill and time to prevent and
immediately stop Officer Rentz from strangling the Plaintiff” but did
nothing on Harris’ behalf.
The lawsuit further contends the observing officers “failed to
document the unlawful use of force, report the unlawful use of force,
nor did they document or report the statements that Officer Rentz made
to the Plaintiff.”
The lawsuit says Harris was deprived of his rights under the
Constitution and Georgia’s state laws by the officers. Harris is
seeking a jury trial and compensatory and punitive damages.
CNN was unsuccessful in its attempts to reach Brannon, Mcleod and
Fennell or their representatives. The Appling County Sheriff has not
yet responded to CNN’s question about the employment status of the
officers involved or given CNN a statement on the incident.
Officer was fired and faces criminal charges; his lawyer denies choking
allegation
Rentz, who was terminated, is not named in this lawsuit. Harris and
his attorneys filed a lawsuit against Rentz in January.
It alleges Rentz and three other officers entered Harris’ cell and
shocked him several times with a so-called “shock shield,” which
the lawsuit describes as “an electrified shield design(ed) to deliver
an electric shock to those who come into contact (with) it.”
Harris was left in the cell for several hours, according to the
lawsuit, before Rentz returned, removed leg shackles from Harris’
ankles, wrapped them around his neck and choked him.
According to the filing, Rentz told Harris he was “gonna put you
back in the cotton field with the other boys” while he was
“strangling” him.
Harris was emotionally traumatized by the incident and “believed he
might die” according to the lawsuit. The filing also says Harris
received physical injuries because of the shock shield.
Rentz was charged in March 2023 with violation of oath of office and
battery.
The criminal case is pending in Appling County court. Rentz’s
criminal attorney, Hugh McCullough, told CNN his client has pleaded not
guilty to the charges and said Rentz denies any wrongdoing.
Rentz’s civil attorney, Patrick O’Connor, denied the lawsuit
allegations, saying in an email, “Mr. Rentz did not choke Mr. Harris
and Mr. Rentz never made the offensive comments falsely attributed to
him.”
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