The attorneys for Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill in Georgia vehemently refuted the Department of Justice claims that he is guilty of police brutality and constitutional violations against jail inmates in 2020.
Hill was arrested and charged with four violations of 18 US Code 242, which is a color of law statute that prohibits any official from violating someone’s constitutional rights.
Rolling out reported on April 27 that the DOJ asserted in federal court in Atlanta that Hill “without any legal justification, ordered his employees to strap the detainees into a restraint chair and keep them there for hours in violation of their constitutional rights. The indictment further alleges that Hill deprived the detainees of their due process rights because such use of force was unreasonable, amounted to punishment, and caused the detainees physical pain and bodily injury.”
A federal judge in Atlanta granted Hill a $50,000 bond, which the sheriff posted. These charges carry a maximum of 10 years in prison, according to prosecutors.
“While the vast majority of our law enforcement officers perform their duties bravely, professionally, and with honor, those few who abuse their power must be held accountable,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Kurt R. Erskine in a Tuesday news release. “Our constitution prohibits law enforcement officers from using unreasonable force.”
Hill’s attorneys are vigorously fighting the charges.
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