Former Louisville, Kentucky, Corrections Officer Convicted of Using Excessive Force

WASHINGTON –   A federal jury in Louisville, Kentucky, found Darrell Taylor, 32, a former officer with the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections (LMDC), guilty of having used unlawful force against a pretrial detainee.

Evidence presented at trial included a video showing the defendant’s assault of the detainee. On the video, the defendant can be seen grabbing the detainee and throwing him to the ground, and then punching the detainee repeatedly in the face and head until he appears to lose consciousness.  The officer then lifts the detainee’s limp body and slams him face-first into the ground. At trial, the director of LMDC testified that the force depicted on the video was inconsistent with training provided to every LMDC officer.

The detainee, identified in charging documents only as B.R., did not testify. However, evidence at trial revealed that he suffered serious injury, including a broken and displaced jaw.

“Every person in our nation’s jails and prisons has the right to be free from excessive force by corrections officers,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.“ With its verdict, the jury makes clear that corrections officers will be held accountable for beating and abusing the people in their custody.”

“I commend the FBI for its investigation of this matter and the prosecutors for their outstanding presentation of the case at trial,” said U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett for the Western District of Kentucky. “We will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute the unlawful use of force by those charged with providing a safe environment for offenders in their custody.”    

“Taylor violated the trust placed in him as a Corrections Officer when he violently attacked B.H. Criminal behavior such as this must be punished,” said Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen for the FBI Louisville Field Office. “It is a fundamental part of the FBI's mission to protect the civil rights of all people, including those who are incarcerated, and we will continue to work with our partners to seek justice.”

The defendant will be sentenced on Jan. 25, 2023. The charge on which he was convicted carries a maximum sentence of 10 years of imprisonment. 

Assistant Attorney General Clarke, U.S. Attorney Bennett and Special Agent in Charge Cohen made the announcement.

The FBI Louisville Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Gregory for the Western District of Kentucky and Trial Attorney Andrew Manns of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case.

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