Santa Clara County corrections guard charged with punching and kicking an inmate in the head
Santa Clara County prosecutors have charged a former correctional guard with felony assault for violently subduing an inmate in the main jail in 2013, officials said Tuesday.
Timmy Tri, 35, was arrested Monday and charged with assault and battery by an officer and assault with deadly force and is expected to be arraigned in September, prosecutors said.
Tri allegedly punched and kicked an inmate in the head who was being held down after he fought with another deputy. The incident occurred on the fifth floor inside the county’s main jail Oct. 3, 2013.
Prosecutors were given the case to consider for charges once before but rejected it. A second review with additional evidence this year resulted in charges, authorities said.
“Guards sometimes need to use force to subdue an inmate for a variety of reasons, but they must always maintain self-control,” Deputy Dist. Atty. John Chase said in a statement. “There’s no justification for kicking an inmate in the head and face while he is pinned to the floor.”
A number of Santa Clara County sheriff’s deputies have come under investigation over the last year following reports that inmates were forced to fight each other and others were subject to beatings from guards.
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