CHIPLEY, Fla. (WTXL) - A Chipley inmate is suing the Florida Department of Corrections after he was falsely accused of spitting on an officer and was brutally beat.
According to court documents, Jeremiah Tatum is suing the FDOC for damages totaling over $15,000.
Tatum alleged that while he was incarcerated at the Northwest Florida Reception Center several officers beat him up.
The document said that on August 5, 2014, a correctional officer captain got several other officers together to have a private meeting.
The captain apparently told the other officers that Tatum "was going to be dealt with" for allegedly getting chemicals on the captain and grabbing his ID card.
When the captain told the other officers the plan, he asked if anyone took issue with it, to which no one voiced any concerns.
With that, the group went to Tatum's cell. Once they had escorted him beyond surveillance cameras, the captain announced in a loud voice that Tatum had spit on him and told the others to "drop him on his head."
The court document alleged that Tatum was then thrown to the ground and beaten. During the beating, Tatum didn't resist, nor did any officer object.
The document alleges that a false use of force report was filed in an attempt to fabricate a story surrounding the incident and cover it up.
Tatum had previously been imprisoned for trafficking illegal drugs in Duval County.
