A Black inmate in Washington state has filed a federal lawsuit against the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, alleging excessive force after he was slammed into bunkbeds, thrown to the floor, and dragged backward across his jail cell using a rope clipped to his handcuffed wrists. The incident, which occurred in 2021 and was caught on security cameras, left the inmate, O’Neal Payne, with cuts, bruises, and lasting emotional distress.
Lawsuit Alleges Inhumane Treatment
Payne’s lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Tacoma last month, describes the jail’s actions as a “vile abuse of power.”
“Dragging a handcuffed Black man around the jail floor with a rope is inhumane and a vile abuse of power,” Payne’s attorney, Alicia LeDuc Montgomery, said in a statement. “This lawsuit aims to shine a light on these cruel practices and demand accountability.”
Clark County, which assumed oversight of the jail from the sheriff’s office in 2023, declined to comment on the pending litigation.
Sheriff Called Incident “Troubling,” But No Charges Filed
Then-Sheriff Chuck Atkins publicly condemned the incident in 2022, stating that his office took excessive force “very seriously and it will not be tolerated.” After reviewing the footage, Atkins placed Deputy Robert Hanks, the most aggressive officer in the video, on administrative leave and referred the case for possible criminal charges.
However, the Vancouver City Attorney’s Office declined to file charges, citing insufficient evidence. Hanks was later reinstated, but it remains unclear whether he faced any internal discipline. The sheriff’s office has not responded to requests for comment on the lawsuit or Hanks’ status.
Security Footage Shows Violent Confrontation
Payne was housed in the jail’s maximum-security unit due to what officials called a history of uncooperative behavior. He was assigned a 3-to-1 deputy ratio and was in custody on a commercial sex abuse charge at the time.
Security footage, which does not include audio, shows deputies entering his cell to collect meal containers. Payne, who was handcuffed with his hands behind his back, took small steps backward and then stood still as a deputy motioned for him to move further.
Without warning, Hanks lunged at Payne, slamming him into the bunkbeds, then shoving him against the wall before forcing him face-first onto the upper bunk frame. Deputies then took Payne to the floor and restrained him.
Two additional deputies entered with a red rope, attaching it to Payne’s handcuffs. The rope was threaded through the food slot in the cell door, and the deputies left the cell. As Payne attempted to sit up, they yanked the rope, dragging him backward toward the door and pulling his arms through the slot up to his armpits.
After several moments, the deputies unclipped the rope, removed his handcuffs, and left him alone. Payne was never offered medical care, according to the lawsuit.
Internal Investigation Found Use of Force Was Likely Criminal
The sheriff’s internal affairs division later determined that official reports of the incident “lacked detail and did not appear to accurately reflect the amount of force seen in the video.” The department also concluded that the force used appeared excessive and possibly criminal.
Despite these findings, the county prosecutor referred the case to the city attorney’s office, which ultimately declined to pursue charges.
The lawsuit seeks damages for physical and emotional harm, as well as accountability for the officers involved. As the legal battle unfolds, the case highlights ongoing concerns about the treatment of inmates and the use of force within correctional facilities.