A deputy in Florida was fired on Tuesday for allegedly shattering the dentures of a wheelchair-bound inmate and striking him with his fists and knees, according to The St. Petersburg Tribune.
Deputy Raymond Ferrio of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office was accused of using excessive force while attempting to restrain an inmate he was escorting to the infirmary, the Tribune reported.
The incident, which occurred on Oct. 1, began when the inmate put his feet down while sitting in his wheelchair, preventing Ferrio from pushing him forward, according to the newspaper.
Ferrio reportedly put his arm around the inmate’s neck and pulled him from his wheelchair before dumping him onto the floor, according to the release. When the inmate fell, his dentures were shattered and Ferrio reportedly hit him with his fists and knees while restraining him.
An investigation by the sheriff’s office found the inmate hadn’t provoked the attack or presented a threat to staff members. During the investigation, Ferrio admitted he shouldn’t have used such force but, according to the release, “got caught up in the moment.”
Watch video of the incident below, courtesy of the Pinellas Sheriff’s YouTube channel:
