Former Cook County Jail Inmate Sues Guard Over Beating Caught On Tape
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A former Cook County Jail inmate has sued a correctional officer over a beating at the jail three years ago.
A confrontation between Officer Branden Norise and inmate Randall Brown on July 4, 2013, was caught on videotape.
The video shows Norise trying to remove Brown from a day room at the jail. At first, Brown appears to fight back, or defend himself; it's not clear.
Then Norise hits Brown, and knocks him to the ground. He continues punching and kicking Brown while he's on the floor, trying to protect his head with his arms.
"Sometimes the line where appropriate force becomes excessive is difficult to spot. Here it is crystal clear from, frankly, the beginning of the incident," said Cara Smith, the chief policy officer for Sheriff Tom Dart.
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Dart suspended Officer Norise over the incident, and tried to fire him - so far, without success.
"In the meantime he's on the job. He was returned to work," Smith said.
Norise has told the merit board he did that because he felt like he didn't have control over Brown.
Brown's federal lawsuit claims Norise had lost control of himself.
Norise was awarded $117,000 of back pay after he was allowed to return to duty from unpaid suspension.
Smith said it's all frustrating.
"Frustrating that the termination was not upheld; frustrating that something short of termination was not ordered by the merit board," she said.
WBBM has not been able to reach Norise for comment.
