Blinded

Jury Grants $250,000 to South Carolina Inmate Blinded by Guard’s Pepper Spray

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Columbia, SC – A jury in Richland County has granted a $250,000 award to a former inmate who claimed he was rendered blind in one eye after a correctional officer used pepper spray on him. This incident, which has spotlighted the use of force in state correctional facilities, occurred after the inmate allegedly failed to comply with an order during his incarceration at the Broad River Correctional Institution. The inmate, Michael Gibson, reported that during the 2018 incident, the correctional officer, identified in the lawsuit as Sergeant Johanna Smith, used excessive force by directly spraying … Read more

Lawsuit Claims Ex-Deputy Blinded Man During Arrest, Excessive Force Alleged in Disturbing Casino Encounter

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Denver, CO – A lawsuit has been filed against a former Gilpin County sheriff’s deputy accused of assaulting a local man, Christopher Bustos, resulting in the loss of vision in one eye during a confrontation last year. The incident, which occurred on March 19, 2023, has sparked concerns regarding the use of excessive force and adherence to law enforcement protocols. According to court documents, Filip Perry, the implicated former deputy, approached a vehicle reported as stolen, positioned in the Ameristar Casino parking lot in Blackhawk. Bustos, along with an unidentified passenger, was in the car … Read more