Video shows encounter at heart of Camden County Jail inmate lawsuit
CAMDENTON, Mo. (KMIZ)
The lawyer for a man suing the Camden County Sheriff's Office has released a video that he says shows his client's constitutional rights being violated by jailers.
A Texas County man sued the Camden County Sheriff's Office and the Camden County Jail in federal court in December claiming assault, battery and negligence.
Joshua Glenn Miller, who was an inmate at the Camden County Jail, alleges that on Aug. 9, 2024, three correctional officers -- Hunter Austin, William Koncen and Nathan Weems -- violated his constitutional rights. His lawyer, Alex Perry, sent video of the encounter to ABC 17 News on Monday.
Miller was jailed for failure to appear in a forgery case.
Sheriff's office reports claim that at 8:47 p.m., Austin and Weems were releasing an inmate when Miller started to kick the door, which was not the first time Miller had done that during the night. Koncen was radioed to help and the three officers ordered Miller multiple times to go back into his cell or they would use a stun gun, the reports say.
Miller refused to follow requests and told the officers "then tase me," according to the sheriff's office. Austin pointed his stun gun at Miller, who then started to put water on himself so Austin couldn't use the weapon, the reports say.
The reports say three officers attempted to put Miller in handcuffs and Miller continued to resist but eventually were able to secure the handcuffs.
Three minutes later, the officers attempted to place Miller in a restraint chair but he continued to violently fight the officers by kicking them, rocking himself forward by swinging his head and shoulders forward to remove the spit mask and to keep the helmet placed on him from being secured, the sheriff's office reports allege.
Miller repeatedly attempted to bite Koncern through the spit mask and continued to resist despite repeated commands to stop moving, according to reports.
Weems wrote that he applied a stun gun to Miller's left leg as Koncen applied pressure to Miller's right leg and Weems was able to secure both legs to the restraint chair.
Weems wrote that he then placed a spit mask and helmet on Miller and he was fully restrained at 8:53 p.m. Miller was then escorted by the officers to a hallway where he was checked on in 15-minute intervals, reports say.
Weems and Austin reported they were not injured during the incident. Koncen reported he was superficially injured.
Miller's lawsuit says he's seeking compensatory and punitive damages for physical injuries and mental anguish. Perry, Miller's lawyer, also claims the sheriff's office violated the state's open records law by not turning over video of the incident.
The lawsuit alleges the jailers beat and used a stun gun on Miller even though he wasn't resisting. The officers slammed his head into the floor, as well, the lawsuit says.
The suit claims the use of excessive force is a pattern in the sheriff's office.
Perry writes in the lawsuit that Miller had surgery the morning of the incident and that jailers failed to provide him with adequate medical care after the confrontation.
A Camden County Sheriff's Office spokesman said the department will not comment on pending litigation.
