Montgomery, AL – Elmore County’s former Deputy Sheriff Blake Hicks faced justice today with a 29-month prison sentence for violating civil rights through excessive force.
Hicks, aged 33, stood before the court guilty of using unreasonable force against an arrestee who was handcuffed and incapacitated. The attack resulted in the arrestee suffering a broken cheekbone, a concussion, and lacerations. Hicks’ actions were deemed willful and without legal justification.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division emphasized the importance of law enforcement respecting the rights of those in their custody. ‘This defendant had a duty to protect and serve,’ Clarke stated, ‘but instead he violently assaulted an arrestee who was not resisting or threatening harm.’
United States Attorney Jonathan S. Ross for the Middle District of Alabama echoed the sentiment, noting that Hicks fell short of his obligations as a law enforcement officer. ‘The sentence imposed today ensures Hicks is held responsible,’ Ross said, ‘as failure to do so would undermine public trust in law enforcement.’
The FBI Mobile Field Office and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency collaborated to investigate this case, which was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Laura-Kate Bernstein, Special Litigation Counsel Michael J. Songer of the Civil Rights Division, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Counts for the Middle District of Alabama.
As Hicks begins his prison term, the Justice Department reiterates its commitment to holding law enforcement accountable for any abuse of power or excessive force against individuals in custody.
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Key Facts
- State: Alabama
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption|Violent Crime|Human Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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