Former Phila. Prison Guard Going To Trial For Allegedly Beating Inmate
By Steve Tawa
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A former Philadelphia prison guard has been held for court for allegedly beating an inmate last November at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility. He's out on bail, pending the trial.
It was time for "count" in the cellblock when inmate Victor Henderson noticed his cellmate hung a towel at the entrance, a sign that he was using the toilet. Henderson testified that he asked Corrections Officer Larry Levy whether he could wait outside, and the CO cursed and told him to go inside.
Henderson says he asked Levy "not to disrespect" him, and he as he turned to ask another officer for permission to step away, Assistant DA Andrew Wellbrock says Levy hit him with "haymakers," 11-12 times, then kicked the inmate when Henderson was lying prone on the floor, covering his head:
"Stomps on his head, punches him once or twice more, and then pepper sprays him when backup arrives."
Wellbrock showed a one-and-a-half minute prison video of the incident.
Defense attorney Shaka Johnson used the same video to claim Levy issued "an official command to go into the cell," and suggested the guard was concerned that the inmate had a hand in his pants concealing something and yelled "show me your hands" before he struck the inmate.
Levy faces charges that include (simple) assault, possession of an instrument of crime, obstruction and official oppression.
