Two Georgia Deputies Caught On Video Violently Restraining Inmate
ASHLEIGH BANFIELD, CNN HOST: We got some new video just in to us of sheriffs, deputies in Chatham County, Georgia and they are violently restraining an inmate who had just come out of a restraint chair. I do want to give you a warning. This is pretty disturbing video but it's also very telling. Two of the deputies in the video happen to be the same deputies who were recently fired for their part in the confrontation that led to the death of a 21-year-old man named Matthew Ajibade. Now, this is not Matthew. Ajibade was arrested in January but this video is taken 23 days after the death of Ajibade and you can see this very violent confrontation that sheriffs and deputies taking that man down. They went back for that inmate and according to the affiliate WSAV, they opened that door without telling a supervisor for violation. The confrontation turned violent. A third officer enters the scene, delivers a knee blow to the inmate's head. It's not protocol either. A female deputy ended up being involved as well and she brought out her Taser. She had that Taser real close to him and the report said that that inmate was tased while he was in full restraint. CNN Law Enforcement Analyst Cedric Alexander who is the President of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives with us live. And also with me is CNN commentator Mel Robbins. So first to you Mel, I just want -- you've seen the video, you had a chance to look at it. I often start off by saying, "Let's remember folks, these guys are not in those circumstances because they were singing too loud in church. They are often violent. They are often difficult. They bite, they spit, they punch, they hurt even if they're in restraint." But with that said, is an officer allowed to use all that kind of force to try to restrain a bad guy?</s>MEL ROBBINS, CNN COMMENTATOR: Well, there is a justification for using force in certain situations and that, what we just saw on that video and there's more to that video, there's a second confrontation where that same officer that rackets the guy in the head with his knee does the exact same move to another guy who's doing nothing. And so --</s>BANFIELD: Spitting or yelling or something now --</s>ROBBINS: He's spitting.</s>BANFIELD: Yeah.</s>ROBBINS: So here's the problem, in a correction facility it's very different than being a police officer on the street. You actually have a controlled environment. You also have background on the inmate so that you know exactly what they've done or been accused off. You now whether or not there's a mental health history or whether or not they're --</s>BANFIELD: You would hope you have, but this is intake. These guys have not been sitting in the cell for a long time.</s>ROBBINS: Yes, but they have complaints and in this particular situation, we're talking about a situation that didn't turn violent. We're seeing on videotape a situation that officers created using violence. And so, you don't see any, yeah, like you don't see anything happening with that inmate and yes...</s>BANFIELD: I do, I see him taking a shoulder to the bigger officer. Now, I see the bigger officer also, you know, like you said, gave him the rackets kick to the head with his knee. But Cedric Alexander, is there any circumstance for officers like that to use any means necessary with their body for instance if they're not holding a Taser, if they can't tase this guy and he is violent, can they knee kick him to the head, can they use their own bodies to stop him any way they can?</s>CEDRIC ALEXANDER, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Well, you know, every agency and I'm quite sure and this agency as well too inside a correctional facility, you're going to have policies in which you're going to have to abide by even when it comes to take downs. There are such in this case as well too. But it's very hard for me because in some ways, we can clearly see what is going on. But yet in some ways we can not. So without me being too speculative about this Ashleigh, I think one thing that's going to be critically important in this particular case considering the history of a previous case 23 days ago is going to be the outcome of the investigation. And I'm quite sure that is going to be conducted or is currently under investigation. Because I think in there, we're going to get more to the truth that is going to collaborate with that video and maybe some that will not. But certainly it is not a video in which I would say the officers in some kind of way felt that they're in threat for their lives and they needed to go beyond what they would typically go beyond. But this clearly is a case that's going to require some more review considering his history.</s>BANFIELD: Well, without question -- considering its question considering Matthew Ajibade is dead.</s>ALEXANDER: Right.</s>BANFIELD: And so this is, you know, 23 days later you got an evidence --</s>ALEXANDER: That's right.</s>BANFIELD: -- of guys who were, you know, let go. So I have to leave it there but we're going to continue to watch this case. Mel, I know you were fascinated by the fact that the people who were watching, the administrators didn't seemed to be -- they were somewhat non-classify what they were witnessing and that's maybe something that will work itself into this case too. Cedric Alexander as always, thank you.</s>ALEXANDER: Thank you.</s>BANFIELD: Mel, always good to see you.</s>ROBBINS: Thank you. Coming up, a shot fired at one George Zimmerman. Yes, the George Zimmerman, the man who shot and killed Trayvon Martin. Lots of shattered glass, but Mr. Zimmerman survived and we have the 911 call. But wow, this makes a long list of incidents George Zimmerman has been involved in. We'll update you next.