A former officer of the Mississippi State Capitol Police Flex Unit, Jeffery Walker, was indicted for allegedly using excessive force against a handcuffed individual, court documents revealed. Unsealed in the Southern District of Mississippi, the indictment charges Walker with a felony for deprivation of rights under color of law, which could lead to a maximum of ten years imprisonment.
The incident, which came to light following an official announcement of U.S. Attorney's Office, occurred on July 27, 2022, when Walker was said to aggressively have initiated a vehicle pursuit involving the arrestee, identified only as E.S. E.S. did not stop his vehicle, which led to a chase ending with both vehicles coming to a halt after Walker cut E.S. off. A Jackson Police Department officer handcuffed the compliant E.S. without issue. However, according to the allegations, Walker then proceeded to assault the handcuffed E.S., striking his head against the car hood, and kicking him in the head and face, resulting in bodily injury.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, along with U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee for the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the FBI Jackson Field Office, were responsible for making the announcement regarding the unsealing of the indictment. The FBI Jackson Field Office is handling the ongoing investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenda Haynes and Trial Attorney Eric Peffley of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are set to prosecute the case. In an announcement of U.S. Attorney's Office, it was stated that "An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law."
