AUBURN, California — Newly released video shows Auburn Jail staff beating an inmate in an empty cell.
The video, recorded on Auburn Main Jail cameras in 2017, was released by Mark Merin, the lawyer representing 200 people, including Beau Bangert — the inmate seen in the video — as part of a class action lawsuit against Placer County, the Placer County Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Devon Bell and the deputies involved in the incident.
The video shows Bangert circling his cell before stopping and putting up his fists. Bangert laughs moments before a Placer County Sheriff's Deputy comes into frame and shoves him against the wall with a plastic body shield. Three other deputies then come into the cell to restrain Bangert.
The following video is disturbing. Viewer discretion is advised.
Bangert laughs moments before a Placer County Sheriff's Deputy comes into frame and shoves him against the wall with a plastic body shield. Three other deputies then come into the cell to restrain Bangert.
While restrained, Bangert is punched several times in the back of the head and neck and hit with a stun gun. Not long after four more deputies come into the cell to help bring Bangert to the ground.
The Placer County Sheriff's Office responded to the release of the video on Facebook.
"The actions of the officers are troubling and represent conduct that has never been tolerated at our agency," said Public Information Officer Lt. Andrew Scott. "Our criminal case was submitted to the Placer County District Attorney and these individuals were terminated from our agency."
The class action lawsuit was settled Thursday, awarding the victims a total of $1.4 million, with $250,000 of the settlement going to Bangert.
"We brought these alleged misdeeds to your attention when they occurred in 2017 and to continue to be transparent," explained Scott. "We wanted to be the first to release these videos to you as well, once litigation involving these incidents is over."
Scott said that since this incident came to light, management oversight has increased, camera equipment at the jail has been upgraded and improved and additional training was added for staff to learn how to interact with people who suffer from mental illness.
"All these actions and many more were taken to make sure this type of behavior does not reoccur," said Scott.
Scott says that while this video shows troubling actions taken by officers, the acts of a few should not tarnish the good work of other staff at the jail who "strive to serve all of us every day."
Full class action complaint included below:
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