The Florida Department of Law Enforcement announced Thursday that three correctional officers were arrested and charged with murder in the fatal beating of a handcuffed prisoner who had thrown urine at one of the officers.
On Feb. 14, guards were removing the inmate from a cell in the mental health unit of a Miami-Dade County prison in order to transfer him to a prison in north Florida. According to the department, after the inmate threw urine on the officer, he was handcuffed and beaten.
“After the inmate was removed, even though he was in handcuffs and compliant with officer commands, agents say the officers began to beat him. The inmate was beaten so badly he had to be carried to the transport van,” according to a news release from the department.
The inmate was placed alone in a secure compartment inside the van, according to authorities.
According to the statement, the van came to a stop along the way, and the inmate was discovered dead on a bench inside the vehicle. A punctured lung, which caused internal bleeding, caused the death, according to the medical examiner. In addition, the inmate’s face and torso were bruised.
Christopher Rolon, 29, Kirk Walton, 34, and Ronald Connor, 24, were arrested early Thursday, according to authorities. They’re all accused of second-degree murder, among other things.
All were being held without bail, and the men’s attorneys were not listed in online jail records.
Authorities have stated that they are looking for a fourth officer in the case. They kept his identity hidden.
