FORMER DETENTION OFFICER CHARGED WITH USING EXCESSIVE FORCE

FROM:  U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Former DeKalb Detention Officer Charged with Using Excessive Force on County Inmates
Hamilton Allegedly Tased Inmates Without Justification and Wrote False Reports to Cover Up Abuse

Dwight Hamilton, 51, of Atlanta, Georgia, a former sergeant with the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office, was arraigned today on charges of using excessive force against inmates at the DeKalb County Jail and for writing false reports about the incidents, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta of the Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney John Horn of the Northern District of Georgia and Special Agent in Charge Britt Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

According to the indictment and other information presented in court, Hamilton worked as a supervisory officer at the DeKalb County jail from 2005 to 2012, where, on two separate dates in January 2012, he used his taser multiple times on inmates without justification.  The indictment charges that in both instances, Hamilton’s use of excessive force violated the inmates’ constitutional rights and resulted in bodily injury.  The indictment also alleges that, following each of the tasing incidents, Hamilton wrote a false report with the intent to impede an investigation.

Hamilton was arraigned before Magistrate Judge Janet F. King.

Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges.  The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

This case is being investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Christopher Perras of the Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Alan Gray.