JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The high-profile Civil Rights attorney that's representing a local pregnant woman who was reportedly beaten by a JSO correctional officer while in custody at the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is requesting that the State Attorney and Department of Justice investigate her case as a hate crime.
"Before and during this outrageous attack on this citizen, there were racial slurs being used and hurled at her indicating what was the mentality of this officer as she assaulted and battered this 36-year-old college educated black woman (Kirenda Welch)," said attorney Benjamin Crump.
Crump said Welch was shackled in four-point restraints and was beaten by the officer. He also said several officers were present during the altercation but didn't do anything to intervene.
Last week, JSO arrested and fired the officer, identified as Catherine Thompson, for misdemeanor battery against Welch. Thompson also faces a falsifying documents charge for trying to cover up the attack that happened in a room with no surveillance cameras.
Crump said Welchs' team will also be filing motions and complaints for public records to be released in the case, including any and all video surveillance.
"This excessive force encounter needs to be released," he said. "If the video is there, what do you have to hide if you're doing the right thing. Do the right thing."
Crump also suggested that Thompson learned how to treat Welch from another officer.
"Who did she learn this from," he questioned and explained someone who has been working there taught her to take Welch into the room with no surveillance video. "It's something a new officer doesn't know."
"I never thought I would be the victim of police brutality," Welch said during the press conference. "I complied with everyone one of her requests to shackle me, only for her to punch me in the face and stomach over a dozen times. I was in disbelief. Everybody that was at work that night stood and watched it happened."
Welch said in the press conference that she is pregnant.
"I was pepper sprayed, worrying about my unborn child," she said.
Crump said they'll file the motion Monday.
To read a letter sent from Welch's attorney to Attorney General Jeff Sessions regarding the case, see below.
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