WOODBINE, Ga. – Attorneys on Wednesday released a third video of the beating of their client at the Camden County Detention Center.
Surveillance video of the beating was first released by Hobbs’ attorneys on Monday. According to a spokesperson for the Camden County Sheriff’s Office, five deputies involved were placed on administrative duty Monday — more than two months after the incident happened, according to Hobbs’ attorneys. According to Hobbs’ attorneys, the videos were recorded on Sept. 3 inside Camden County jail. Sheriff Jim Proctor ordered an internal review of the incident Monday. On Tuesday, the GBI announced it is investigating the incident at the request of Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney Keith Higgins.
A spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office said the deputies are still being paid and were placed on administrative duty rather than administrative leave so they would be readily available to answer investigators’ questions.
Update: Camden Co. Sheriff's Office spox says 5 deputies involved in beating of inmate Jarrett Hobbs are on administrative duty, *not* admin. leave as he previously thought. Says admin. duty began on Monday- more than 2 months after beating happened, per Hobbs' attys @wjxt4
— Anne Maxwell (@AnneMaxwellWJXT) November 16, 2022
Hobbs’ attorneys shared the third video clip less than an hour before they, along with Hobbs’ sisters and local activists, held a news conference at 1:45 p.m. Wednesday in front of the Camden County Courthouse.
The first video shows Hobbs appearing to pick up something on the bench of a jail cell. Deputies enter, and it appears they try to restrain him before striking him repeatedly on his head. In the second video, the struggle continues into a hallway, where Hobbs is pulled out of the cell, forced to the ground and appears to be restrained.
No sound was audible in those two video clips, but in the third, screaming can be heard. The third also shows a different angle of the incident, as well as the moments before the beating and afterward.
In that video, it appears Hobbs is being hit repeatedly. Deputies then ask him to let go of what Hobbs says is a paper. At one point, a deputy is heard threatening him.
“I’ll break your ******* thumb if you don’t let go,” the deputy can be heard saying.
Inmates can also be seen popping their heads out of their cells to see what is going on when they hear the commotion.
News4JAX has blurred much of the video because, at some point, the inmate’s pants came off.
WATCH: 3rd video released of man being beaten at Camden County jail (DISCLAIMER: Footage contains graphic content. Viewer discretion advised.)
Harry Daniels, an attorney representing Hobbs, said his client was hurt.
“Mr. Hobbs had swelling, a chipped tooth, maybe had internal bleeding. We’ll never know because they didn’t get him in treatment. One of his dreads was ripped out of his head,” Daniels said.
At Wednesday’s news conference, Hobbs’ attorneys accused the Sheriff’s Office of a coverup. They said Hobbs’ complaint was ignored, and they’re accusing the Camden County sheriff of enabling a culture of abuse.
Hobbs’ attorneys said Hobbs’ probation officer in North Carolina, as well as a U.S. attorney there, requested the video — which is the first time it came to light. Hobbs’ probation officer wasn’t at the jail during the incident but said the beating happened after Hobbs refused to stop banging on his cell.
In the third video, banging can be heard and then a deputy walks toward Hobbs, followed by what sounds like screams. Seconds later, other deputies head that way. Then three more deputies walk toward the cell, followed by a fourth.
Hobbs’ probation officer said Hobbs didn’t put his hands behind his back when asked, resisted jailers and punched one deputy in the face while punching another deputy in the side of the head. The deputies are heard in the hallway after the incident, but it’s hard to make out what they’re saying.
Hobbs’ lawyers said they want the deputies placed on leave and criminally charged. Attorney Bakari Sellers said they also want the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the Sheriff’s Office.
“What we have here today is a department that is rogue, a department that is out of control, a department that is absent leadership,” Sellers said.
According to Hobbs’ attorneys, their client had been brought in on non-violent charges and was having a mental health episode. But after this incident, they said, he was charged with battery, aggravated assault and obstruction.
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Hobbs’ sisters said the deputies are the ones who should be charged.
“Get the same things that would happen to us if we was out here. Y’all would have charged us. So what’s making them any different? Because they got a badge?” said Jai-Vian Thomas, Hobbs’ sister.
The Sheriff’s Office is not commenting further, citing an ongoing investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation that was requested by the local District Attorney.