Correctional officer indicted, arraigned for excessive force on inmate

ATLANTA, Ga. (WDEF) — A federal correctional officer in Atlanta was indicted and arraigned for using excessive force on an inmate and writing a false report to justify it, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Justin Newkirk recently appeared before a judge at his arraignment. A federal grand jury indicted him on June 13.

Officials state that 35-year-old Newkirk was a correctional officer at USP (United States Penitentiary)-Atlanta. His charges indicate that on March 17, Newkirk sprayed an inmate with pepper spray repeatedly without legal justification.

The indictment claims Newkirk wrote a false report, stating it was necessary to use the pepper spray. His report said the inmate lunged at him with a closed fist, “showing imminent signs of violence.”

However, the Department of Justice adds that this case is still being investigated. Newkirk is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

“Correctional officers perform a particularly challenging and critical job in maintaining order and protecting inmates in our nation’s prisons and jails,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “But this officer’s alleged misconduct of abusing an inmate and then writing a detailed false report to conceal the crime demands accountability.”