NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A correctional officer at the Davidson County Sheriff's office was arrested on Tuesday evening for actions he took against an inmate in the jail.
The incident took place in January when correctional officer Kenneth Traylor, 46, beat an inmate in the face until another officer was able to get in between the two men.
The altercation was caught on security video at the Sheriff's Office.
According to police, the video shows Traylor escorting an inmate through a hallway inside the jail. The inmate, Darrel Mintlow is dressed in his yellow inmate uniform and is carrying a white mesh bag while restrained with handcuffs, belly-chains with locks and leg irons.
In the video, you can see the two arrive at the door where Traylor steps in front of the inmate and pushes the button to open the door. At this time, the inmate strikes the officer in the back of the head with the bag he was carrying.
Cpl. Traylor responded to the attack immediately. However, once Traylor was able to get the inmate to the ground, he sits on top of him as he uses one of his hands to cup the inmate's neck in order to restrain him. With his other hand, Traylor then begins to hit the inmate in the face with a closed fist.
Another correctional officer, Cpl. Jeffrey Andrews arrives at this point in the video. Andrews used his body to separate the inmate and the officer and to prevent Traylor from continuing to hit Mintlow. More deputies then arrive and the incident was resolved.
Officer Traylor says Mintlow had grabbed his arms and refused to let go during the attack but this is not supported by video evidence.
Traylor is charged with misdemeanor assault, but was freed shortly after his arrest on pre-trial release.
This is a developing story.
