Mark Bryant, Civil Rights Violations, Tennessee 2016

State: Tennessee
Category: Violent Crime
Source: <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdtn/pr/federal-indictments-unsealed-cheatham-county-taser-incident" style="color:#cc0000;" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">DOJ Press Release ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Â Ã¢â‚¬â€

Former corrections officer Mark Bryant is facing federal charges stemming from a 2016 Taser incident at the Cheatham County Jail in Ashland City, Tennessee.

According to a recent indictment, Bryant used a Taser to stun an 18-year-old detainee four times for a total of approximately 50 seconds while the detainee was in a restraint chair. The incident occurred on November 5, 2016. Bryant also Tased the detainee for approximately 11 seconds without legitimate justification after the detainee was placed in handcuffs and surrounded by multiple officers.

As a result of the unjustified uses of force, the detainee sustained bodily injury. Bryant’s indictment also alleges that he obstructed justice by submitting false reports about both incidents.

Bryant’s indictment includes two counts of deprivation of rights under color of law and two counts of obstruction of justice. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for the color of law charges and 20 years in prison for the obstruction charges, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

The investigation into the incident was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Beth Myers of the Middle District of Tennessee and Civil Rights Division Trial Attorney Michael J. Songer.

An indictment is merely an accusation and not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Bryant was arrested earlier today and will make an initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge later this afternoon. His former colleague, Sergeant Gary Ola, is also facing federal charges related to the incident.

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