Hamilton Allegedly Tased Inmates Without Justification and
Wrote False Reports to Cover Up Abuse
Dwight Hamilton, 51, of Atlanta, Georgia, a former sergeant
with the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office, was arraigned today on charges of
using excessive force against inmates at the DeKalb County Jail and for writing
false reports about the incidents, announced Principal Deputy Assistant
Attorney General Vanita Gupta of the Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney John
Horn of the Northern District of Georgia and Special Agent in Charge Britt
Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
According to the indictment and other information presented
in court, Hamilton worked as a supervisory officer at the DeKalb County jail
from 2005 to 2012, where, on two separate dates in January 2012, he used his
taser multiple times on inmates without justification. The indictment charges that in both
instances, Hamilton’s use of excessive force violated the inmates’
constitutional rights and resulted in bodily injury. The indictment also alleges that, following
each of the tasing incidents, Hamilton wrote a false report with the intent to
impede an investigation.
Hamilton was arraigned before Magistrate Judge Janet F.
King.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only
contains charges. The defendant is
presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to
prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the FBI and is being
prosecuted by Trial Attorney Christopher Perras of the Civil Rights Division
and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Alan Gray.
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