Several Mississippi deputies have been fired after two Black men have filed a federal lawsuit accusing them of breaking into their home, torturing them, and even attempting sexual assault, according to CNN. The Rankin County Sheriff's Office announced the termination of the deputies, all of whom are white, during a Tuesday (June 27) press conference.
“Due to recent developments, including findings during our internal investigation, those deputies that were still employed by this department have all been terminated,” Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey said. He didn't reveal their names nor how many got fired.
This comes nearly two weeks after Michael Jenkins and Eddie Parker filed a civil rights lawsuit claiming six white deputies illegally broke into their home and tortured them for almost two hours on January 24. According to the suit, the deputies allegedly handcuffed the Black men, assaulted them, hurled racial slurs, and even waterboarded them -- all while their body cameras were turned off.
“Throughout the nearly two-hour ordeal, the six deputies would punch and beat two handcuffed men at will, hurting and humiliating both Jenkins and Parker," the lawsuit claims. "Deputies also repeatedly and gratuitously kicked the men as if they were animals while they lay subdued and handcuffed."
The document also alleges the deputies three eggs at them, forced them to shower together, and even tried to use a sexual device against the Black men. The cops even pressed a gun to their heads and threatened to kill them, the lawsuit states.
At the height of the terror, a deputy allegedly put a gun in Jenkins' mouth and shot him, leaving him with a lacerated tongue and shattered jaw.
"He was severely injured, left alone to care for and treat himself as he stumbled out the door and fell,” the suit reads. “Unfortunately, Jenkins has suffered permanent physical injuries, permanent cognitive damage, long-term psychological damage, permanent disfigurement, and impairment."
Parker sought medical attention for the injuries he suffered, while Jenkins was rushed to the hospital for multiple surgeries, CNN said. When asked about the deputies' whereabouts during that time frame, Sheriff Bailey previously said the deputies were home for drug enforcement activities, WAPT reported.
Several state and federal agencies are conducting a civil rights investigation into the incident, including the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi.
Bailey, who's listed as a defendant alongside the six deputies in the lawsuit, said the sheriff's office now has a compliance officer "for monitoring of our daily operations and to ensure our department remains compliant with all state and federal law."
Parker and Jenkins are seeking $400 million in damages.
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