-Caveat Lector- <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/"> </A> -Cui Bono?- http://www.knoxnews.com/news/4847.shtml 3 suits allege rights violations Detainees accuse Knox SORT unit February 2, 2000 By John North, News-Sentinel staff writer Three men held last year in the Knox County Detention Facility allege a team of black-masked officers working for the Sheriff's Department targeted them for beatings and abuse. Jeffrey S. Laymon, Colin R. Wells and Abram D. Carter also allege sheriff's officials routinely use inmates as "dummies" for training exercises by the team, called the Special Operations Response Team. "This kind of activity should not be permitted in our country," said lawyer Bruce Poston, who along with lawyer James A.H. Bell filed three civil rights lawsuits Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Knoxville. "The law has turned lawless, and we want it stopped." Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Dwight Van de Vate predicted the lawsuits, which he termed "frivolous and without merit," ultimately would be dismissed. "(They) contain a variety of misrepresentations and outright inaccuracies," Van de Vate said. The men each seek up to $500,000 in compensatory damages and up to $2 million in punitive damages. Named as defendants are Sheriff Tim Hutchison, Mike Ruble, who is Hutchison's administrative chief and department lawyer, former Detention Facility Commander Rodney Bivens and about 35 unnamed and unknown deputies. On the afternoon of Feb. 2, 1999, Laymon, Wells and Carter were being held in a cell pod at the Detention Facility, a minimum- and medium-security facility on Maloneyville Road in Northeast Knox County. The men were pre-trial detainees. Laymon, Wells and Carter allege they and other inmates were acting peacefully in the pod's commons area when jail authorities abruptly ordered everyone to go to their cells. Minutes later, a team of about 30 masked officers stormed in. As officers swarmed into their cells, Laymon and Wells allege they could hear men telling them they were being targeted for filing a lawsuit against the department. About a week before, Poston had filed a class-action civil lawsuit in U.S. District Court seeking to seal confidential inmate information held by sheriff's authorities. The lawsuit since has been dismissed. Laymon contends SORT team members used excessive force, hitting him in the groin and slamming his head against a wall. Laymon said he did not resist officers. Wells alleges he was hog-tied and beaten in his kidneys so badly he was unable to use the bathroom for several days. Carter, who alleges he was targeted because of his large size and passive nature, was hog-tied and suffered injuries to his arm, neck and back. When lawyer Poston's allegations surfaced in September, sheriff's officials said they used the specially assembled SORT team to quell jail disruptions. They said they wanted inmates to fear the black-clad SORT team members so they could preserve order. But authorities said they considered physical injury, either to an inmate or an officer, to be a sign of a failed SORT team exercise. Lawyer Bell said the Sheriff's Department is abusing its power. Every citizen could potentially suffer at the hands of the SORT team, he said. Laymon is out of jail today. Wells and Carter remain in the department's custody, Poston said. John North may be reached at 865-342-6306 or [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- ----------------------- NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml ----------------------- <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soap-boxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
