The Monroe County Jail has been in the public spotlight in recent weeks for deteriorating and inhumane living conditions for inmates. Now, the newly-released body cam footage of a beating inside the jail is adding fuel to the fire, and the sheriff says he is taking accountability for his department.

 

WARNING – This story features descriptions of violence and contains graphic video.

 

A Monroe County corrections officer is out of a job after the Sheriff says the officer used excessive force and violated department policies when dealing with a resistive inmate. The brawl can all be seen on jaw-dropping body cam footage.

According to the sheriff, the inmate, Marcus Ford, was in the process of being transported to medical observation. Ford refused to go and began directing threats at the officers.

“As soon as you step in here it’s going down,” Ford told the officers.

Minutes after that threat, the officers are seen in the body cam entering the cell, and that’s when the fight became more physical.

The footage shows corrections officers wrestling with Ford, including the officer who was fired for his conduct. Ford took several blows to the head and the sheriff confirmed he suffered a broken nose and orbital bone.

The corrections officer was also injured in the brawl, suffering a busted lip. He can be seen in the footage noticing the injury and throwing several more punches at Ford.

Officers eventually were able to control the inmate and get him outside of the cell. Bloody, beaten, and bruised, Ford sat outside of his holding cell surrounded by corrections officers.

The body cam footage in its entirety can be seen below:

“I have the backs of all of my employees, but I will not hesitate to hold them accountable if they fail to follow our policies.”

–  Monroe County Sheriff Ruben Marté

Marté was elected in November 2022 and has been Sheriff since January. In a video statement following the release of the body cam footage, Marté pledged to be transparent and have a sense of accountability.

Indiana State Police and the County Prosecutor both opened investigations into the incident, and neither came forward with criminal charges for the officer in question.

The other officers seen in the video have not faced any disciplinary action as a result. The sheriff’s office did not confirm if there will be a further investigation.

This is not the first incident causing public concern over the Monroe County Jail. A few weeks prior, Sheriff Marté pleaded to county commissioners that the jail’s living conditions are inhumane.

Photos shown to the commission show the deteriorating condition of the county jail.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office has since completed restoration work inside the jail. County officials continue the debate on whether to renovate the jail or expand to a new location.