Ex-Corrections Officer pleads guilty in connection to battery on inmate hospitalized in Jacksonville

Jacksonville, FL — A now-former State Corrections Officer has permanently surrendered his certification, as part of a plea agreement to settle allegations he beat an inmate who had just undergone major surgery in a Jacksonville hospital.

WOKV first told you last September about the arrest of Brandon Brewer, who worked as a Corrections Officer for the Florida Department of Corrections' Reception and Medical Center in Lake Butler. Brewer was arrested by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office for felony charges of battery on an inmate and official misconduct relating to an incident in June 2017.

Brewer has now pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of simple battery, with the adjudication withheld.

As part of the plea agreement, Brewer will wear an ankle monitor for twelve months, perform 200 hours of community service, pay restitution for additional medical services to the victim, and permanently surrender his FDLE Correction Officer certificate. He was also given credit for two days served in the Duval County Jail.

“We believe this is the appropriate outcome for this case and ensures Mr. Brewer is no longer a member of law enforcement,” says a statement from the State Attorney’s Office to WOKV.

Brewer was arrested after an FDC Inspector General’s investigation. An inmate, who was at Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville a couple of days after undergoing surgery to remove his gallbladder and repair a hernia, said Brewer called him names and punched him multiple times. The inmate’s legs were in irons at the time. The affidavit for the arrest warrant says he was left with a laceration under his eye, a laceration at the top of his head, and a bloody nose.

Brewer wrote in his Use of Force Report that the inmate had been acting disruptive, then became belligerent and threatened Brewer. Brewer claimed the inmate grabbed his shirt and pulled him down, at which point Brewer punched him until he let go. Investigators determined this account to not be true, leading to the official misconduct charge. Brewer further denied calling the inmate any names.

Another Officer in the room told investigators he did not believe Brewer’s account, adding that the inmate was “meek as a kitten” the whole time he was in the room, according to the affidavit. The Officer says he heard Brewer call the inmate names and saw him punch the inmate twice. While the Officer said Brewer told him the inmate grabbed him, the Officer told investigators he did not see that or any reason to justify the use of force.

A nurse was also initially in the room, but asked to leave by Brewer. She told investigators she could hear the inmate say not to touch him, chains rattling, and someone saying to get off me, but tuned out after that. An additional Lieutenant to whom the use of force was initially reported told investigators he believed the inmate was telling the truth.

At the time, the inmate was being treated for schizophrenia and depression.

Brewer was dismissed from FDC September 28, 2017. He had no prior discipline with the Department.