Louisville Corrections Officer Punches Handcuffed Black Inmate In The Face, Department Finally Releases Video

Body camera video shows a Louisville Metro Department of Corrections officer punching a handcuffed inmate in the face.

The Courier Journal reported Wednesday that officers are seen asking then-19-year-old inmate Terry Whitehead why toilet paper was covering his cell window. Forty-seven-year-old Officer David Schwartz is then seen punching Whitehead and leaving the cell. Whitehead is suing Schwartz and former officer 21-year-old Devan Edwards for excessive force, assault and battery.

Both officers were fired in April when Corrections Director Mark Bolton found Edwards and Schwartz, a former marine, violated policy. He said Edwards failed to report the incident.

The lawsuit says Edwards told Whitehead he could use toilet paper to cover cell door openings to create privacy when using the bathroom. The video was provided by Whitehead’s attorney Sam Aguiar.

“If don’t nobody believe he deserves justice, I do," Janelle Stark said. "And I’m going to make sure he gets it.”

Handcuffed and cornered, 19-year-old inmate Terry Whitehead can be heard calling out for his mother.

“I’m hurt, my heart is broken,” Stark said.

Officer David Schwartz is clearly seen punching Whitehead in the head in the video.

In a federal lawsuit, both men are accused of throwing punches and pepper spraying Whitehead before the video starts.

“My son is helpless and this is somebody that was in a position of power he had a uniform on,” Stark said.

Schwartz and Edwards were fired immediately after jail administrators saw the video, but Stark worries the men will be hired elsewhere and another inmate won’t have the support that her son has.

“I want criminal charges placed against them,” Stark said. “We are fighting, like Terry said, this is the fight of our lives.”

According to sources, the FBI is now investigating this case.

You can read the full and complete story by clicking here.

Oh mom, we all agree with you that your son deserves justice. While I won't place the video on here, it's actually linked in the article where you can watch. I was stunned and disgusted at what I saw and I have reason to believe this goes on alot but it never been reported. I'm also getting tired of these Police Officers or even Correctional Officers just being fired. If this was the other way around we all know Terry Whitehead would've had another charge added on. This Officer needs to be charged. He committed a crime.