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| Inmate claims beating at hands of four deputies |
| By The Register-Guard |
| Published: 05/12/2004 |
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A 19-year-old Eugene, Oregon, man who says he was beaten by four deputies in front of dozens of witnesses Friday night at the Lane County Jail is preparing to sue the county over an eye injury, bruises and other wounds. Dustin Raymond Robert Stewart said the attack was unprovoked and began about 10 p.m. as he was sleeping in the jail's holding cell - a large room where inmates wait to be booked into the main jail. Attempts to reach three witnesses whose phone numbers Stewart supplied were unsuccessful Monday night. The jail's security specialist, Bob Hickok, acknowledged that there had been an incident involving Stewart. However, he said the sheriff's policy is to not comment publicly about such allegations, but to do a fair and complete investigation whenever a citizen files a complaint alleging abuse by jail deputies. Stewart has not yet filed an official complaint but said he intends to. Stewart said he was arrested around 10 a.m. Friday. Court records show he was wanted for failing to go to the jail last year to serve a 20-day sentence on three counts each of forgery and theft. Court records show no other convictions and he said he'd never been to jail before Friday. Stewart said other inmates told him that jailers were calling his name while he slept. He said he awoke to find a female deputy pulling him by his big toes. "That's when it started," he said. "In no way whatsoever did I show any physical aggression to them. None at all." The female deputy kicked him in the groin and punched him, he said. Three male deputies joined her, rolling him to his stomach, handcuffing him behind his back, stomping on his knees, pulling his shirt up over his head after pepper spraying his face, and kicking and punching him. His clothes are blood-stained from the attack. He said his right eye still does not focus and has a blind spot. Stewart said the deputies dragged him down the hall - possibly by his ears, as he has bruises on the backs of his ears where thumbs would have been placed. He said he was then held in a solitary cell without food until he was released Saturday at 11 p.m. due to jail overcrowding. All the while, he said he received no medical attention for his injuries. Stewart said he intends to file a lawsuit. |
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