MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FL - A group of correctional officers are facing criminal charges after allegedly assaulting an inmate so badly, he was "unrecognizable" to his own mother.
Seven Florida Department of Correction officers have been arrested on charges ranging from battery on a detainee to perjury and evidence tampering, Local10 reported.
"It was complete horror. I was horrified. He was unrecognizable," Mary Pratt, the inmate's mother said.
"His head was sunken in ... that was not my son, what I saw in that picture."
Former Lt. Shentrica Clark, 40, appeared before a judge along with six other staff members accused in what investigators call a plot to assault 30-year-old Christopher Castro on April 6th.
"They need to be held accountable," Pratt said. "These are the people that are supposed to be watching over them." Clark has been charged with evidence tampering, along with 32-year-old Captain Jochen Anglin.
Officers Jordy Calero, 23, and Travon Norman, 29; Sgts. Deandre Hill, 24; Freddie Morgan, 35; and Richard Jackson face charges of battery on an inmate, failure to report use of force, and perjury.
"I fear for his life. I fear for his life," Pratt said. The Florida Department of Correction confirmed all of the officers involved have been dismissed, saying they do not tolerate such conduct toward inmates.
Court documents state that Castro was taken from the showers to meet with Clark regarding an incident in which he was accused of pulling a knife on another officer.
Instead, he was allegedly taken to an area with no cameras, where he was kicked and punched.
"The victim was kicked and punched several times in his face, on his head, on his back, and on his arms which were handcuffed behind his back," the arrest warrant states, according to Law & Crime.
"After the beating, the victim was escorted back to his cell by the main unit officers. As the victim was being escorted back to his cell, several witnesses observed that the victim had significant facial bruising, bleeding, and scratches."
Castro told investigators that after he was returned to his cell, he requested emergency medical attention.
"The victim was told that his request was denied," according to the warrant.
Clark later claimed that Castro "tried to stab a correction officer in the recreational yard" and was seeking medical attention "because he wanted to get out of his cell," the warrant states.
Clark allegedly did not inform the officers at shift change of the "use of force" on Castro. The officer saw "visible injuries" on Castro's face and "blood on his shirt," according to police.
They "immediately" contacted the warden and informed them of Castro's condition, which led to pictures being taken for an internal review.
"I have yet to see my son," Pratt said. "I don't know if he is OK." Castro has since been transferred from Homestead to the Wakulla Correctional Institution in North Florida.
Seven Florida Department of Correction officers have been arrested on charges ranging from battery on a detainee to perjury and evidence tampering, Local10 reported.
"It was complete horror. I was horrified. He was unrecognizable," Mary Pratt, the inmate's mother said.
"His head was sunken in ... that was not my son, what I saw in that picture."
Former Lt. Shentrica Clark, 40, appeared before a judge along with six other staff members accused in what investigators call a plot to assault 30-year-old Christopher Castro on April 6th.
"They need to be held accountable," Pratt said. "These are the people that are supposed to be watching over them." Clark has been charged with evidence tampering, along with 32-year-old Captain Jochen Anglin.
Officers Jordy Calero, 23, and Travon Norman, 29; Sgts. Deandre Hill, 24; Freddie Morgan, 35; and Richard Jackson face charges of battery on an inmate, failure to report use of force, and perjury.
"I fear for his life. I fear for his life," Pratt said. The Florida Department of Correction confirmed all of the officers involved have been dismissed, saying they do not tolerate such conduct toward inmates.
Court documents state that Castro was taken from the showers to meet with Clark regarding an incident in which he was accused of pulling a knife on another officer.
Instead, he was allegedly taken to an area with no cameras, where he was kicked and punched.
"The victim was kicked and punched several times in his face, on his head, on his back, and on his arms which were handcuffed behind his back," the arrest warrant states, according to Law & Crime.
"After the beating, the victim was escorted back to his cell by the main unit officers. As the victim was being escorted back to his cell, several witnesses observed that the victim had significant facial bruising, bleeding, and scratches."
Castro told investigators that after he was returned to his cell, he requested emergency medical attention.
"The victim was told that his request was denied," according to the warrant.
Clark later claimed that Castro "tried to stab a correction officer in the recreational yard" and was seeking medical attention "because he wanted to get out of his cell," the warrant states.
Clark allegedly did not inform the officers at shift change of the "use of force" on Castro. The officer saw "visible injuries" on Castro's face and "blood on his shirt," according to police.
They "immediately" contacted the warden and informed them of Castro's condition, which led to pictures being taken for an internal review.
"I have yet to see my son," Pratt said. "I don't know if he is OK." Castro has since been transferred from Homestead to the Wakulla Correctional Institution in North Florida.
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Comments
2025-08-25T19:22-0400 | Comment by: James
Whoever hired these thugs needs to be held accountable also!!!