HARRISON COUNTY, Ind. (WDRB Fox 41) -- The already embattled Harrison County Indiana Sheriff's Department is under the gun again. An inmate claims he was tortured -- and many are claiming it was racially motivated.
Lawyers for Tevin Bald say there is no justification for his treatment behind bars. They want a federal investigation -- and they're ready to sue.
Civil rights leaders and attorneys representing Tevin Bald of Louisville are incensed, and they want the Harrison County, Indiana Sheriffs Department held accountable.
They say 18-year-old Bald was abused May 22nd, while being housed at the jail. His attorneys believe his treatment was racially motivated.
"He is the inmate -- the 18-year-old inmate from the Harrison County jail -- who was tortured for more than one hour two weeks ago without anyone coming forward to tell anyone about it," said Amie Newlon, Bald's attorney.
Bald was facing forgery charges in Indiana. His lawyers say a corrections officer first used pepper spray for no reason.
They say he was placed in restraints, stripped naked, placed in a chair and verbally abused for an hour. There was no medical treatment and he was denied a shower for three days.
Corporal Nathan Adams is the sheriff's department employee being investigated. He was fired over the alleged allegations, but then later rehired by the sheriff Michael Deatrick.
The Harrison County prosecutor is now investigating. He wants the FBI and Indiana State Police to investigate a possible federal hate crime.
The incident could have been sparked by jail officials' denial to let Bald clean his cell, at time when other inmates were allowed to clean their cells.
"With respect to the sheriff re-hiring the officer back, his comment in a report was...he's just stupid," said Dustin White, a spokesman for the NAACP. "He made a mistake? That is no longer an excuse for violations of human rights."
The sheriff has been indicted on ten felonies. The charges include felony sexual battery, criminal deviate conduct and obstruction of justice The case involves employees within the department. Bald's attorney's are leery of Deatrick investigation into these new abuse allegations. As for the prior charges, his attorney says he'll be vindicated.
"The sheriff is completely innocent," said Bart Betteau, Deatrick's attorney. "There is no question in our mind that he will be acquitted of all charges because he didn't do anything wrong.
But Betteau says he's not getting involved in this latest case -- one that will be full of emotions.
