‘I didn’t see anybody punch him’: Officers deny beating inmate in new interview footage

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — The four corrections officers accused of beating up an inmate in an incident that was caught on camera deny using unnecessary force in newly released audio from their interviews.

Video of the incident, which surfaced in July, was taken by another inmate at Lake Correctional Institution using a cellphone he wasn’t supposed to have.

Capt. Milton Gass is accused of trying to cover up what happened by falsifying records, and for allegedly putting inmate Otis Miller in a chokehold. Investigators with the inspector general’s office in the Department of Corrections said Miller had bruising on his face, a blood clot, swelling of the jaw, fractured ribs, and a pulmonary contusion.

Read: Fourth corrections officer charged after video shows inmate beating in Lake County

The four officers originally said they only used distractionary strikes that they were taught in the police academy.

Following weeks of interviews, investigators say they uncovered that officers Joshua Petersilge, Ian Gretka and Hunter Lingo did stomp, kick and punch Miller.

The inmate said he ran because he had cigarettes on him. Officers said Miller was caught with a cell phone charger. Investigators said they couldn’t corroborate that because Gass said he got rid of the charger instead of placing it into evidence.

Miller told Ch. 9 earlier that he has experienced “pain on his whole left side" and migraines since the incident.

All four officers have been fired and pleaded not guilty.

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