π¨ ACCOUNTABILITY ALERT π¨ December 26, 2025 DeSoto County, Florida RESTRAINED INMATE PUNCHED BY CORRECTIONS SERGEANT Officer Fired β’ Arrested β’ Federal Review Requested π Location: DeSoto County, Florida π Date of Incident: December 17, 2025 Body camera and jail surveillance footage show former corrections sergeant Luis Tovar repeatedly punching 22-year-old detainee Darion Hawkins while he was fully restrained in a chair with his hands strapped down. The detainee posed no visible threat. βοΈ WHAT HAPPENED β’ Inmate was restrained and under full custodial control β’ Officer struck the inmate multiple times in the face and head β’ Force appeared punitive, not defensive β’ Incident was captured on video π OUTCOME βοΈ Officer terminated βοΈ Officer arrested βοΈ Two counts of battery filed π WHY THIS MATTERS This incident raises serious constitutional concerns, including: β’ Excessive force β’ Abuse under color of law β’ Deprivation of civil rights Advocates are calling for federal review under 18 U.S.C. Β§ 242, which addresses civil rights violations by law enforcement officials. π’ PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY Agency: DeSoto County Sheriffβs Office π Main Phone: (863) 993-4700 π Website: https://www.desotosheriff.org U.S. Department of Justice β Civil Rights Division π https://www.justice.gov/crt β REMEMBER Accountability should not depend on whether a camera is turned on. π HASHTAGS #DeSotoCounty #FloridaNews #CivilRights #JailAbuse #UseOfForce #PoliceAccountability #DOJCivilRights #ConstitutionalRights #Justice
