CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — A Florida deputy has been fired and charged with battery after a video allegedly shows him kicking an inmate who was doing push-ups as punishment.
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri says 31-year-old inmate Mario Christo got in trouble for feeding a bird a cookie during trash duty and was ordered to do push-ups. The sheriff said Deputy James Moran cursed and ordered the inmate to "drop" and do 50 push-ups. The video shows Christo doing more than 20 before he is kicked in the side by Deputy Moran.
The incident happened in January. The sheriff called the deputy's behavior "outside the bounds," saying "we don't treat people this way."
The Orlando Sentinel reports Christos was serving a sentence for disorderly conduct. He made the complaint after being released this month.
Moran was terminated and charged Tuesday with battery.