Indiana: Indiana Cop Faces Federal Charges After Stomping on Handcuffed Black Man's Face
The Indiana cop, Eric Huxley, who stomped on the face of a handcuffed black man, Jermaine Vaughn, is facing federal charges. He might spend 10 years in prison if convicted. Photo by Jon Cherry/Getty Images

A federal grand jury in Indiana charged an Indiana cop Tuesday with breaking a man's civil rights by using too much force when he was arrested last year.

On September 24, 2021, body camera footage showed Sgt. Eric Huxley stomping on Jermaine Vaughn's face while his hands were bound behind his back.

Yahoo says that Huxley's coworkers threw Vaughn to the ground when they tried to arrest him for being disorderly in the business district of the city.

Huxley, 44, has worked with the department for 15 years and is charged with one count of deprivation of rights under color of law.

Jermaine Vaughn Was Arrested for Yelling

According to the affidavit, Vaughn was yelling and one of the police handcuffed him after he "refused to calm down."

Huxley was one of three officers who went to a downtown landmark after getting a disorderly conduct report.

Vaughn was handcuffed when told to "lean back" by an officer named Matthew Shores. Vaughn said he cannot, as the officer was clutching his belt. At that point, Shores pushed him up some stairs to get him on the sidewalk.

Huxley, a white Indiana cop, can be seen stomping once with his left foot on Vaughn's face as the officer held him to the ground by his collar. A few seconds later, Vaughn's mouth was filled with blood.

"Stop. You're done. "You're done," Huxley said.

Vaughn had previously been arrested for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, according to News One. However, both charges were dismissed.

Vaughn was handcuffed at the time and did not pose a physical threat, but he was kicked in the face. Before the incident, Huxley had already been charged with local felony charges for official misconduct and battery that caused moderate harm.

Eric Huxley, an Indiana Cop, Is Facing Charges

In September 2022, two officers with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) accused the department of retaliation after an incident report about their sergeant.

Vaughn was handcuffed by one cop while the other seized his legs.

In the body camera footage, Huxley can be seen kicking Vaughn in the face as he was on the ground.

WTHR reported that Huxley is still on unpaid leave while the IMPD Civilian Police Merit Board decides if he should be fired or not.

The Civilian Police Merit Board looks at an officer's standing after the criminal case is over.

"This incident was unnecessary and should have never occurred. I would not tolerate this behavior from any community member; Sergeant Huxley is no exception," said IMPD Chief Randal Taylor.

"As law enforcement officers, we must understand that this behavior violates the community's trust. We have confidence the judicial system will bring justice to Mr. Vaughn and his family," Taylor added.

According to Indiana University criminal justice expert Stephanie Whitehead, there were video cameras and witness testimony in this case that proved what occurred, and the chief is taking it seriously represents a significant cultural shift.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: IMPD Sergeant Eric Huxley indicted by federal grand jury for civil rights violation - From WTHR