A group of correctional officers in Florida allegedly beat up an inmate so severely that he was “unrecognizable” to his own mother, resulting in criminal charges.
“It was complete horror,” said Mary Pratt, inmate Christopher Castro’s mother, about the first time she saw a photo of the 30-year-old after his alleged beating at Dade Correctional Institution in West Miami-Dade on April 6, according to local ABC affiliate WPLG.
“His head was sunken in,” she told the publication this week. “That was not my son, what I [saw] in that picture.”
According to court documents, seven Florida Department of Corrections officers have been arrested on battery and evidence tampering charges, among other offenses, in connection with the alleged jail assault.
They include former Lt. Shentrica Clark, 40; Officers Jordy Calero, 23, and Travon Norman, 29; Sgts. Deandre Hill, 24, Freddie Morgan, 35, and Richard Jackson.
“They need to be held accountable,” Pratt fumed. “These are the people that are supposed to be watching over them.”
According to an arrest warrant, Castro, who is serving a 15-year sentence for burglary and other crimes, was retrieved from a shower area that day and led to an area outside Clark’s office “where there are no surveillance cameras,” according to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.
Two officers who escorted Castro told police investigators that he had no visible injuries at the time of his retrieval and his hands were “cuffed behind his back, per protocol.”
According to the warrant, when Castro and the officers who retrieved him arrived outside Clark’s office, they were met by “main unit officers” Anglin, Calero, Norman, Jackson, Hill, and Morgan.
According to the warrant, when officers attempted to escort Castro to a nearby holding cell, he began “dropping his weight” in an attempt to stop them.
“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,” according to the warrant. “Following the beating, the victim was led back to his cell by main unit officers.
As the victim was led back to his cell, several witnesses noticed significant facial bruising, bleeding, and scratches.”
Castro told police investigators that after being returned to his cell, he sought emergency medical attention. “The victim was told that his request was denied,” according to the warrant.
Clark later claimed Castro “tried to stab a corrections officer in the recreational yard” and sought medical attention “because he wanted to get out of his cell,” according to the warrant.
Clark allegedly failed to inform another officer of the “use of force” on Castro when speaking with them after a shift change. Police say the other officer saw “visible injuries” on Castro’s face and “blood on his shirt.”
They “immediately” contacted the warden and informed them of Castro’s condition, which resulted in photographs being taken for an internal review and police being called, according to the warrant.
While speaking with cops about what allegedly happened, Clark allegedly stated that she received a phone call from Clark earlier in the day informing her that Castro had been “rowdy” and “possibly possessed a weapon.”
A strip search was authorized, but no weapons were discovered. According to police, Clark stated that Castro “only had a little knot on his head” and that he was fine. He was eventually taken to the doctor after repeatedly complaining of a headache.
“He was unrecognizable,” Pratt stated of her battered son. “I was horrified.”
Castro was moved from Homestead to the Wakulla Correctional Institution in North Florida following the alleged incident, according to WPLG. All of the officers who were allegedly involved in the assault have since been fired.
